SCOTLAND

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks.

Ann McKechin: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Scotland Office does not have any wireless networks. Any possible wireless networks would follow CESG guidance on the use of the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) communications security protocols in order to protect wireless networks carrying protectively marked (up to restricted/IL3) traffic. The configuration and operation standards for WPA2 are set out in CESG's Infosec Manual Y, Use of WPA2 Wireless Security in Government Systems.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Scotland Office is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance, these comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review.
	There have been no reported cases of breaches of IT security policies in the last 12 months. However, in the event of any such breach, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy.

Ann McKechin: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Scotland Office is part of the Ministry of Justice. It is not in the interest of the security of the Office, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to individuals responsibilities or to specific electronic breaches of security of Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	It is not in the interest of the security of the Office, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to electronic breaches of security of Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department's policy is on encryption of data when they leave departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy.

Ann McKechin: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Scotland Office shares an information technology system (SCOTS) with the Scottish Executive, who are responsible for the development, administration (including data compliance and security) and maintenance of the system. Under this arrangement, the Scotland Office is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits which  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) his Department's senior officials undertook in 2008.

Ann McKechin: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 102WS, and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code". No foreign travel was undertaken by senior officials in 2007-08.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which trade unions are recognised in his Department.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office is part of the Ministry of Justice, and as such recognise those trade unions which are members of the Council of Civil Service Unions, these include; PCS, Prospect and FDA.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Scotland

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many suppliers based in Scotland have been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority to date.

Tessa Jowell: To the end of January 2009, 13 suppliers registered in Scotland had been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).
	The ODA will be attending a 2012 business engagement event in Scotland on 13 March. Details of this and similar events are provided on the London 2012 website:
	www.london2012.com
	I will also be visiting Scotland on 30 April to 11 May to encourage businesses to get involved in the games.
	Businesses should be encouraged to sign up to CompeteFor, the electronic brokerage service that is designed to give businesses across the country access to contracts in the London 2012 supply chains and any support they need to get ready to compete for them. To date, just over 2,000 opportunities have been posted on CompeteFor.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Culture: Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the Creative Sparks initiative.

Barbara Follett: The Creative Sparks initiative developed into the Cultural Hubs programme, which ran from autumn 2005 to summer 2008. This comprised a consortium of cultural organisations and schools working together in three areas of England to create inspirational learning opportunities for young people.
	The total budget for each Cultural Hub was £1 million. Creative Sparks identified 10 areas of work which the schools were asked to deliver on. By 2008, 33 per cent. of Cultural Hubs schools had delivered 100 per cent. of the 10 areas and 78 per cent. had delivered 80 per cent. of the 10 areas outlined in the original Creative Sparks initiative.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to support the initiative's aims through a range of work including new audiences, young talent and a cultural offer for children and young people.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with groups representing  (a) the elderly and  (b) the disabled on assisting older people with digital switchover.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 11 March 2009
	My Department holds quarterly meetings with the Consumer Expert Group (CEG) set up to advise Government on consumer issues relating to digital television. Help the Aged, Age Concern, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Telecommunications Action Group and Sense are all represented on the Group. Digital UK and the Digital Switchover Help Scheme Ltd. who administer the Switchover Help Scheme for the BBC also attend.
	In addition, we occasionally have separate meetings with members of CEG.
	At the request of the Government, the group made a number of recommendations on the structure and operation of the help scheme which provides assistance to older and significantly disabled people through digital switchover and these are available at
	www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

TRANSPORT

High Speed Two: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department has agreed to provide to High Speed Two Ltd.

Paul Clark: The company High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. will be provided with grants totalling up to £5 million over the course of 2009. This will be reviewed in the light of detailed work planning by High Speed Two.

Humber Bridge: Road Traffic

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate his Department has made of the daily volume of business traffic crossing the Humber Bridge.

Paul Clark: holding answer 13 March 2009
	The Humber Bridge Board is responsible for estimating levels of traffic on the Humber Bridge.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the annual amount collected in tolls from business traffic crossing the Humber Bridge.

Paul Clark: holding answer 13 March 2009
	 The Humber Bridge Board is responsible for recording and estimating toll revenues collected on the Humber Bridge.

Lyme Bay: Boats

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels have been inspected by the Marine and Coastguard Agency within the territorial waters of Lyme Bay in each of the last 10 years; and for what reason in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) usually inspects vessels in port rather than at sea.
	The MCA only holds records from 2002 and does not hold specific information for the territorial waters off Lyme Bay. However for the area up to 12 nautical miles between Portland Bill and Start Point, the breakdown by year is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Inspection type  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Planned 7 2 1 2 — 6 1 
			 Surveillance — — — 2 —   
			 In conjunction with a survey — — — 3 3 7 4 
			 During Ship-to-Ship oil transfer 1 2 — — — — — 
			 Mandatory Expanded Inspection (European requirement) — — — 1 — — — 
			 Post accident 1 — — — — — — 
			 During Tall Ships Event — — — — 2 — — 
			 Total 9 4 1 8 5 13 5

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on producing, printing and distributing newsletters on the widening of the M1 motorway between junctions 25 and 28.

Paul Clark: Three newsletters have been produced for this scheme, in October 2007, May 2008 and November 2008. The external costs for printing and distribution to date is £10,341.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on relocating people from their land or houses during the widening of the M1 motorway between junctions 25 and 28.

Paul Clark: The widening is all within the Highways Agency's boundary and therefore there is no additional landtake. The cost to date is £329.40 which was to relocate one resident for three nights during piling work.
	Further costs in the region of £1,460 will be incurred during the week commencing 9 March 2009. These costs are in relation to providing accommodation for five households overnight to mitigate against any noise disruption as a result of beam lifting work being carried out.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle testing stations  (a) have been closed in the last 12 months and  (b) are scheduled for closure; what the reason is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has not closed any testing stations in the last 12 months.
	In order to remove overcapacity in VOSA's testing services, VOSA has already announced to customers that Bredbury, Steeton and St. Austell Goods Vehicle Testing Stations will be closing during the current year. VOSA continues to review its capacity requirements.

National Networks Strategy Group

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the National Networks Strategy Group has met since it was established; and what matters were discussed at each meeting.

Paul Clark: The National Networks Strategy Group has met four times since it was established on 29 October 2008. The Group has discussed how to make best use of the existing key networks and considered longer term solutions for strategic transport corridors. Some of this work contributed to the 15 January oral statement on "Britain's Transport Infrastructure". This announced the £6 billion programme of managed motorway schemes, progress on the electrification of our rail network, and the creation of the company High Speed Two, to report by the end of the year on a new high speed line between London and the West Midlands.

Railways: Scotland

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he has met the Scottish Executive Minister to discuss proposals for a high-speed rail line to Scotland.

Paul Clark: The Minister of State, Lord Adonis, spoke to the Scottish Executive Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change regarding high speed rail services to Scotland in January. Officials from the Department for Transport meet regularly with Scottish Executive officials to discuss a range of cross-border transport issues, including rail.

Roads

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on new  (a) roads and  (b) motorways in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: The following table shows the available data on expenditure on new construction/improvement and structural maintenance on motorways and trunk roads, and expenditure on new construction/improvement for highways, lighting, road safety and structural maintenance (includes expenditure on patching) on local roads in England for 1997-98 to 2006-07. These data do not enable new road construction to be identified as a separate category.
	
		
			   Motorway and trunk roads( 1)  Local roads( 2) 
			 1997-98 1,325.1 1,463.3 
			 1998-99 828.2 1,213.0 
			 1999-2000 961.1 1,394.9 
			 2000-01(3) 960.7 1,589.6 
			 2001-02 1,020.4 1,982.4 
			 2002-03 1,155.1 2,484.7 
			 2003-04 856.3 2,378.8 
			 2004-05 1,053.4 2,613.4 
			 2005-06 1,276.7 2,773.2 
			 2006-07 1,620.8 2,730.0 
			 (1) Figures are now collected on a resource accounting basis and cannot be compared with data prior to 2001-02. Until 2001-02, associated costs of investment (including depreciation and capital costs) were not included within these figures. (2) Local authority expenditure excludes car parks. (3) Trunk roads in London were transferred to Transport for London in July 2000 and were reclassified as principal roads. Expenditure on these roads from 2000-01 is shown under the "Local roads" heading.  Source: Highways Agency Financial Accounts and local authority returns to Communities and Local Government 
		
	
	The most recent year's expenditure are published each year in table 7.13 of 'Transport Statistics Great Britain', available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb/

Roads: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to bring forward capital spending in road infrastructure in Essex; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: We have recently received formal Regional Funding Allocation advice from the East of England setting out its funding priorities to 2018-19. The advice has prioritised capital funding for a number of road infrastructure schemes which fall within Essex. This includes the Sadlers Farm local major road scheme and £60 million towards introducing new traffic management measures to improve safety, reduce delays and tackle congestion along the A12 from London through Essex and Suffolk to the Felixstowe and Harwich Ports.
	The Government will now consider the Region's advice carefully and expects to announce its response in the summer.
	On the strategic road network, subject to completion of funding arrangements, works are planned to start on widening the M25 between junctions 27 and 30 during 2009-10.
	In addition, the Highways Agency has been granted additional funding in 2009-10 to accelerate its capital investment programme across the strategic road network in England by some £400 million. The agency is currently finalising its plans to allocate this additional funding to ensure best use of available resources and value for money.
	Finally, through the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF), the Department for Transport has funded £37.6 million towards road infrastructure improvements. Further CIF schemes in Essex are also now being assessed, with an announcement expected shortly.

Roads: Safety

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1874W on roads: safety, if he will make it his policy to place in the Library the results of the first round of road safety partnership grants as soon as they have been completed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: An assessment of the effectiveness of road safety partnership grants in England is in progress. It will be completed when results from the first round of projects are available.
	This first round of road safety partnership grant projects in England is due for completion this spring with evaluation reports due between March 2009 and March 2010. The scheduling of the reporting is influenced by the need to measure and evaluate some of the impacts of projects after they have been completed.
	An overview of the key outcomes and lessons learned from some of the projects within the first round of the Road Safety Partnership Grant Scheme is currently underway and a 'headline impact' report is planned for publication later this spring.
	A copy of this report will be placed in the Library. The policy is that, in general, material related to the evaluation of local projects will be published on the Department for Transport website.

Transport: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic noise pollution datasets held by his Department supply data broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority,  (c) county and  (d) region.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	The traffic noise pollution datasets held by DEFRA are those created to fulfil the first round mapping requirements of Directive 2002/49/EC (Relating to the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise). The datasets include noise levels from roads in 23 agglomerations in England (listed), and major roads elsewhere in England with greater than six million vehicle passages per annum. The mapping was completed in 2007.
	The datasets are not currently broken down by constituency, local authority area, county or region.
	 List of agglomerations
	Birkenhead
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Brighton
	Bristol
	Coventry
	Hull
	Leicester
	Liverpool
	London
	Manchester
	Nottingham
	Portsmouth
	Preston
	Reading
	Sheffield
	Southampton
	Southend
	Teesside
	The Potteries
	Tyneside
	West Midlands
	West Yorkshire

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Age: Discrimination

Hugo Swire: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with insurance companies on age discrimination in relation to the Equality Bill.

Maria Eagle: Insurance companies have been closely involved in the work the Government have been undertaking on age discrimination in relation to the Equality Bill.
	They participated in the financial services expert working group along with other experts and age sector organisations, which discussed the use of age in different financial services and issued a report of its conclusions in October 2008.
	The Association of British Insurers is also a key member of the Senior Stakeholder Group, which provides advice to the Government Equalities Office and its Ministers on the full range of measures designed to strengthen equality protection and to streamline the law.
	We will continue to have discussions with the insurance industry as we take forward our work on developing proposals in this area, on which there will be further public consultation.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn, Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 581W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by the Government Equalities Office received in each of the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) maintains one website. The GEO has been able to count hits at:
	www.equalities.gov.uk
	since the website was transferred to a new system in July 2008. Statistics since then are as follows:
	
		
			  Month  Number of hits 
			  2008  
			 July 9,797 
			 August 40,318 
			 September 5,062 
			 October 88,058 
			 November 14,933 
			 December 53,631 
			   
			  2009  
			 January 19,165 
			 February 21,887 
			 March (to 9 March 2009) 9,290

Departmental Public Appointments

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what information her Office holds on the number of persons appointed to executive positions in bodies for which her Office has responsibility who previously had careers in the banking industry.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) sponsors two non-departmental public bodies, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Women's National Commission. GEO is not aware that any of those appointed to these bodies have had careers in the banking industry. Brief biographies of board and executive members on these bodies are available on their respective websites at:
	http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/aboutus/whoweare/Pages/Commissioners.aspx#deputychair
	and
	http://www.thewnc.org.uk/about-wnc/wnc-commissioners/commissioners-biographies.html

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much has been spent by her Office on staff surveys in each year since their inception; and which companies were contracted to carry out the surveys.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office is presently undertaking its first annual staff survey at a cost of £11,265 excluding VAT and has contracted with ORC International.

Equality: Business

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the costs to business of the proposals on the public procurement process to be contained in the Equality Bill.

Maria Eagle: The Government are continuing to explore whether we can do more to encourage public authorities to use procurement to further equality outcomes. We are examining legislative and non-legislative options taking account of EU procurement rules and the need for value for money.

Expert Equality Taskforce

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she expects the Expert Equality Taskforce to report; what the membership of the taskforce is; and what declarations of political activity have been made by each member.

Maria Eagle: I am not aware of a body called the Expert Equality Taskforce. However, the National Equality Panel has been established by the London School of Economics with a grant from the Government Equalities Office. The Panel has been asked to report by the end of 2009 on the relationships between different aspects of inequality in people's economic situations, and their other characteristics and circumstances. Professor John Hills was appointed chair; who then appointed the remaining nine members, as independent experts in particular aspects of equality. They are: Mike Brewer, Professor Stephen Jenkins, Professor Steve Machin, Professor Colin Mills, Professor Ruth Lister, Professor Sheila Riddell, Professor Teresa Rees, Dr. Ruth Lupton and Professor Tariq Modood. Further details of the Panel and its membership can be found on the Government Equalities Office website at:
	http://www.equalities.gov.uk/national_equality_panel.aspx
	The National Equality Panel is not a non-departmental public body, and does not have a register of political interests.

Prostitution: Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the provision of services for women who have been trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation.

Maria Eagle: We believe that existing mechanisms (the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking and the Home Office NGO Stakeholder Group) provide appropriate forums for discussion and advocacy on issues surrounding trafficking for sexual exploitation, as well as allowing for close scrutiny of progress on the Action Plan and the Council of Europe Convention.
	As Minister for Women and Equality, I ensure all Government Departments are considering the specific concerns of vulnerable women. The Home Office and the UK Border Agency continue to work with our international partners both to raise awareness of human trafficking and further strengthen our ability to prevent this crime taking place.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the £1 million emergency fund for rape crisis centres will be continued in 2009-10.

Maria Eagle: This financial year, as well as providing £1.25 million from the Victims' Fund, the Government have paid out £900,000 from a £1.1 million special fund for rape crisis centres. Since the special fund was announced in March 2008, no rape crisis centre has closed.
	This central Government funding is in addition to funding from local bodies, such as local authorities, who are well-placed to assess local needs.
	The Government Equalities Office has been working closely with Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and The Survivors Trust to shape how the 2009-10 special fund for the sexual violence voluntary sector will work. We will announce details of the fund shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office follows CESG guidance on the use of the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) communications security protocols in order to protect wireless networks carrying protectively marked (up to RESTRICTED/IL3) traffic. The configuration and operation standards for WPA2 are set out in CESG's Infosec Manual Y, Use of WPA2 Wireless Security in Government Systems.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy.

Paul Goggins: It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to place a copy of the Northern Ireland Office IT security hierarchy in the Library.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: It is not in the interest of the security of the Northern Ireland Office, or that of the public, to disclose details of scans or vulnerabilities. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department's policy is on encryption of data when it leaves departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance.
	Depending upon the circumstances, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Shaun Woodward: No equality impact assessments were undertaken by my Department excluding agencies and NDPBs in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Departmental Marketing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1415W, on departmental marketing, how much of the total for 2007-08 was spent on  (a) media advertising,  (b) promotion and  (c) education packs and initiatives for schools.

Shaun Woodward: The following table illustrates the Department's expenditure, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, on media advertising, promotion and education packs and initiatives for schools in 2007-08:
	
		
			  Expenditure type  2007-08 expenditure (£) 
			 Media advertising 371,038 
			 Promotion 67,827 
			 Education packs and initiatives for schools 34,547 
		
	
	Some of these figures also include crime prevention initiative costs which are not part of the original advertising costs quoted in the answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1415W.

Departmental Public Appointments

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information his Department holds on the number of persons appointed to executive positions in bodies for which his Department has responsibility in the last five years who previously had careers in the banking industry.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of persons appointed to executive positions in the last five years who previously had careers in the banking industry is not held centrally and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which trade unions are recognised in his Department.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office attaches great importance to ensuring effective consultation and involvement of its staff. It is a personal decision whether or not to join a trade union; however the Department encourages staff to join an appropriate trade union and to play an active part in it, ensuring their views are represented.
	Members of staff in the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are currently represented by the following Trades Unions:
	NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance)
	FDA (First Division Association)
	PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union)
	NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers)
	POA (Prison Officer's Association)
	UNISON
	PGA (Prison Governor's Association).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Land

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the area of farmland of each agricultural land classification at risk of flooding.  [Official Report, 20 April 2009, Vol. 491, c. 2MC.]

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has estimated that out of a total of approximately 14 million hectares of agricultural land in England, 1.3 million hectares are in areas of potential flood risk. Of that, approximately 40 per cent. is grade 1 or 2 and 60 per cent. is grade 3, 4 or 5. DEFRA is refining this estimate with the support of its delivery partners.

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) summits,  (b) conferences and  (c) seminars his Department has hosted since January 2008 at which a primary subject of discussion was the effect of the economic situation on matters within his Department's responsibility.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Since January 2008, the Secretary of State, Ministers and officials have hosted various events at which the impact of the economic situation on matters within the Department's responsibility has been a focus. These events have involved participation by DEFRA staff as well as delivery partners and external bodies.
	In October, the Department hosted an internal conference for members of the senior civil service, at which the economic situation was one of the discussion topics. There were follow-up workshops to take work forward. The impact of the economic situation on the Department's business and priorities is built into the Management Board's performance management process.
	We have also discussed the impact of the economic situation with our delivery bodies, including at a conference with the chairmen of our NDPBs held last autumn. DEFRA and DECC held a seminar with delivery bodies in November 2008 to discuss what more could be done to support business in the area of resource efficiency.
	The Secretary of State and the Department's officials are working closely with other Government Departments on the economy. The Secretary of State attends the meetings of the Prime Minister's National Economic Council. In his 16 February 2009 speech to the National Farmers Union, he announced his intention to convene an industry round-table on skills in the agriculture/horticulture sector in the light of the economic situation.

Renewable Energy: Waste

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of energy generated by energy from waste plants.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2007 Municipal Solid Waste plants generated 1,884 GWh of electricity out of total UK generation of 396,457 GWh. This is equivalent to 0.5 per cent. In addition 171,000 tonnes of oil equivalent were used to generate heat in 2007 which equates to about 0.25 per cent. of UK total demand for heat in that year.

Science Advisory Council

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) men and  (b) women are members of the Science Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 13 March 2009
	Membership of DEFRA's Science Advisory Council currently consists of 11 men and three women.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to answer question 248253, on loss of departmental property, tabled on 12 January 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 433-34W.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of  (a) blood platelets and  (b) blood plasma transported to Afghanistan for use by the armed forces were destroyed because they were past their use-by date in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Records held by the MOD reflect the difference between the amount of blood supplied to operations and the amount transfused. From August 2007 to the end of February 2009, the difference between the amount of blood supplied to Afghanistan and the amount transfused was 265 units of blood platelets and 327 units of fresh frozen plasma. Each unit contains approximately 300 ml. There are a number of reasons for this difference—for example, expiration of the use-by date, damage in transit or accidental exposure to high temperature.
	Prior to August 2007, information was not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Blood

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to introducing pathogen-inactivated blood products for military personnel in theatre; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 19W, to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson).

Armed Forces: Health Services

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of levels of cleanliness in medical centres operated by his Department.

Kevan Jones: In 2008, the MOD's Surgeon General invited the Healthcare Commission to carry out a review of the Defence Medical Services' (DMS) clinical governance processes to help benchmark the DMS's achievement, and help them to continue to meet a high standard of care for Service Personnel by identifying those areas where improvement was needed.
	The Commission's Report, published on 2 March, identified some areas where we must improve, including levels of cleanliness in some of our primary care medical centres. Action has already started to address the issues raised by the Commission, and the Surgeon General has instigated further work across the DMS to identify any other locations with similar problems so that appropriate action can be taken.
	We welcome the review's recommendations, which will help the DMS continue to drive quality improvement as well as recognising where we are already demonstrating best practice in delivering healthcare.

Armed Forces: Pay

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Armed Forces Pay Review Body submitted its 2009 report on armed forces pay to his Department; and when his Department plans to publish  (a) the report and  (b) its response to the report's recommendations.

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he received the report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body for 2008; on what date he proposes to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Armed Forces Pay Review Body submitted its report for 2009 to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence on 29 January 2009. The Government intend to make only one public sector pay award announcement this year and this will be made in due course.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to give retrospective effect for two years to the provisions of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme which provide that military spouses shall receive one-half of the total of the serving spouse's basic pension contributions.

Kevan Jones: The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) increased the rate of widows' and widowers' pension from one third of the member's pension to one half, from 31 March 1973. Individuals serving on or after this date were provided with the opportunity to make additional contributions so as to qualify former service for the half rate of widows' pension. On this basis, it would be difficult, in equity, to extend the half rate pension to widows whose husbands had left the service before that date, and who had not, as a result, contributed financially towards the improvement. It has also been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that discretionary changes to improve the benefits offered by public service pension schemes should be implemented for future service only.

Armed Forces: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps the Government have taken to assist service personnel under the age of 18 years.

Kevan Jones: I refer my hon. Friend to Ministry of Defence policy on the care of service personnel under the age of 18, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Defence: Finance

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of defence inflation in each year to 2015.

John Hutton: No estimate has been made of defence inflation for individual years out to 2015.

Defence: Finance

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which factors have been identified by his Department as underlying defence inflation.

John Hutton: Defence inflation is identified as increases in the costs of all elements of defence spending, including of civilian and service personnel and bought-in goods and services, after allowing for changes in quantity and quality of those goods and services.

Departmental Data Protection

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 2.36 of the Final Report on Data Handling Procedures in Government, June 2008, what the result has been of each spot check carried out by the Information Commissioner since June 2008 in his Department.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has not been subject to any spot checks by the Information Commissioner.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Kevan Jones: Details of the Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment undertaken during the last 12 months are published in our Annual Report 2007-08 against the MOD's Equality and Diversity Scheme, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. We do not record the costs for this work separately as they are part of our normal business.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The value of property lost or stolen is included, with a range of other types of losses, in the summary of losses and special payments published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts, copies are available in the Library of the House and in the MOD's publication scheme on line at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/
	(see note 29 in the departmental resource accounts for financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05 and note 31 for subsequent financial years). The summary identifies those individual cases with a value of £250,000 or more.

Departmental Property

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of houses and flats owned by his Department were empty at the latest date for which figures are available; what recent estimate he has made of the cost of refurbishing empty properties for occupation; and what sustainability criteria are applied to work carried out under his Department's refurbishment programme;
	(2)  which companies have been contracted to refurbish living accommodation for military personnel and their families in the last 10 years; and what the monetary value of each contract was.

Kevan Jones: The term 'refurbishment' is not one formally used by the Department, and is difficult to define. Work which might be categorised as 'refurbishment' could include a number of activities, including the maintenance, modernisation and upgrade of service accommodation.
	To provide details of every contract for the provision of these services over the last 10 years would incur disproportionate cost.
	The majority of the 70,000 service family accommodation (SFA) properties worldwide are leased or rented by the Department, of which some 12,000 are currently void (not in use).
	While most properties are void pending planned moves of service personnel, some are void to allow for work to bring them up to the top standard (of four) for condition, under the Department's SFA upgrade programme.
	In addition to the significant investment in recent years, some £38 million will be spent in this financial year upgrading 600 properties, with plans for a further 800 in each year thereafter at a cost of some £48 million per year.
	Departmental policies to achieve excellence in sustainability are considered in upgrading all properties and applied where it is affordable and cost effective to do so.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment he expects to leave in Iraq following the withdrawal of most UK forces later this year.

John Hutton: We will retain that military equipment required by those UK personnel who remain in Iraq as part of our enduring relationship with the Government of Iraq. The details of this enduring relationship remain under discussion with the Government of Iraq. Planning for the withdrawal of UK forces continues and any proposal to gift equipment to Iraq would follow established procedures.

Members: Correspondence

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter of 2 March 2009 from a constituent of the hon. Member for South West Devon, Mrs Popperwell.

Kevan Jones: While the Department aims to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days of receipt, we have no central record of a letter from the hon. Member's constituent.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1366W, on Hercules aircraft; what the average annual estimated hourly usage over the 30 years' expected service life of the Hercules C-130J is.

Quentin Davies: Our current planning assumes that the average annual usage of the C-130J Hercules aircraft will be 824 flying hours per platform per year.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1440W, on future large aircraft, what the contractually agreed delivery dates are for each tranche of aircraft to be delivered between March 2010 and April 2015; and what the liquidated damages are for late delivery against contractually specified delivery dates.

Quentin Davies: The contracted delivery dates for UK A400M aircraft are as follows:
	
		
			  UK A/C  Delivery dates 
			 1 March 2010 
			 2 April 2010 
			 3 August 2010 
			 4 September 2010 
			 5 October 2010 
			 6 November 2010 
			 7 December 2010 
			 8 May 2011 
			 9 June 2011 
			 10 July 2011 
			 11 September 2011 
			 12 October 2011 
			 13 November 2011 
			 14 December 2011 
			 15 February 2012 
			 16 April 2012 
			 17 May 2012 
			 18 June 2012 
			 19 December 2012 
			 20 March 2013 
			 21 March 2014 
			 22 March 2014 
			 23 August 2014 
			 24 December 2014 
			 25 April 2015 
		
	
	I am withholding the precise details of the liquidated damages as release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 133-4W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, in what ways the Merlin MK3/3a helicopters have been upgraded.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1363-64W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the new operational annex added to the United Kingdom-United States mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters 1958.

John Hutton: No new operational annex has been added to the United Kingdom-United States Mutual Defence Agreement. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1370W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey)

Peacekeeping Operations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what systems are in place for the military medical services in theatre in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan to procure stocks of blood products locally should stocks supplied from the UK run out; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The UK Defence Medical Services do not procure stocks of blood products locally in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
	For routine transfusions, deployed UK military hospitals maintain stocks of blood sourced from UK National Blood Service (NBS) donor centres, which screen and test their donors according to nationally mandated standards. For most patients, this blood is all that is used or needed for their trauma care. However, in circumstances when standard blood stocks might not be sufficient, or where the properties of whole fresh blood are needed, an emergency blood transfusion from donors at a field hospital on or near the battlefield can be the only way of saving lives of gravely wounded UK personnel.
	To enable blood to be obtained in such an emergency, UK field hospitals maintain an Emergency Donor Panel (EDP), consisting of a group of pre-screened volunteer donors who are available to donate blood at short notice. The volunteer donors will have been screened for suitability in accordance with UK NBS guidelines prior to deployment. Prior to donating at an EDP, a further check is made through use of a health questionnaire and an examination of the veins of the potential donors. Blood samples are taken to confirm a donor's blood group, and for retrospective testing by the UK NBS to confirm that the blood transfused remained free from transfusion transmitted infections.
	The military forces of our coalition partners in both Iraq and Afghanistan have their own procedures for pre- and post-screening of blood obtained from their equivalent of an EDP. If seriously-injured UK casualties are treated in a coalition medical facility, they may be given a life-saving transfusion of such blood for the same reasons as apply in a UK field hospital, with the coalition facilities using the same procedures as would be used to treat one of their own nationals. On a few occasions UK field hospitals have also made use of blood and blood components provided by US Forces, to support UK casualties in an emergency.

Peacekeeping Operations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost of supplying blood products to the armed forces based in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan in each year since military operations began in each theatre has been; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much  (a) blood,  (b) blood platelets and  (c) blood plasma has been transported to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan for use by the armed forces in each year since the start of operations in each theatre; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The cost and quantity of blood and blood products supplied to Iraq and Afghanistan is shown in the following table. Records prior to June 2006 are not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Product  Units shipped  Cost (£) 
			  Iraq
			 June to December 2006 Red Cell Concentrate 285 37,565.85 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 0  
			  Cryoprecipitate 0  
			  Platelets 0  
			  Sub-total  37,565.85 
			 
			 January to December 2007 Red Cell Concentrate 1,331 173,722.12 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 25 788.50 
			  Cryoprecipitate 0 — 
			  Platelets 142 32,985.18 
			  Sub-total  207,495.80 
			 
			 January to December 2008 Red Cell Concentrate 1,340 187,224.80 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 165 5,994.45 
			  Cryoprecipitate 10 2,273.60 
			  Platelets 232 53,891.28 
			  Sub-total  249,384.13 
			 
			 January to February 2009 Red Cell Concentrate 180 25,149.60 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 0 — 
			  Cryoprecipitate 0 — 
			  Platelets 36 8,362.44 
			   Sub-total 33,512.04 
			   Total 527,957.82 
			 
			  Afghanistan
			 June to December 2006 Red Cell Concentrate 990 129,214.80 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 66 2,081.64 
			  Cryoprecipitate 15 3,192.60 
			  Platelets 0 — 
			  Sub-total  134,489.04 
			 
			 January to December 2007 Red Cell Concentrate 1,860 242,767.20 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 260 8,200.40 
			  Cryoprecipitate 55 11,706.20 
			  Platelets 152 35,308.08 
			  Sub-total  297,981.88 
			 
			 January to December 2008 Red Cell Concentrate 3,055 426,844.60 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 1,889 68,627.37 
			  Cryoprecipitate 79 17,961.44 
			  Platelets 419 97,329.51 
			  Sub-total  610,762.92 
			 
			 January to February 2009 Red Cell Concentrate 530 74,051.60 
			  Fresh Frozen Plasma 203 7,374.99 
			  Cryoprecipitate 22 5,001.92 
			  Platelets 91 21,138.39 
			   Sub-total 107,566.90 
			   Total 1,150,800.74 
		
	
	It is not possible to quantify the exact volume of blood and blood product supplied to Iraq and Afghanistan, as due to variations in donors' physiology, donations are not the same size. Red Cell Concentrate and Fresh Frozen Plasma units are single donations; platelets units are an "Adult Therapeutic Dose" and can be a single donation or a mixture of four donors; and Cryoprecipitate is one mega unit that represents five individual donations.

QinetiQ

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an assessment of the implications for the national interest of the disposal by QinetiQ of their underwater systems business at Winfrith to a non-UK company.

Quentin Davies: While final decisions on the future of QinetiQ plc's underwater systems business based at Winfrith and Bincleaves in Dorset are a commercial matter for the company, we are aware that discussions that might lead to a sale are ongoing with third parties. Any sale to a company subject to foreign control and influence would be conditional on the acquirer providing national security guarantees to HM Government regarding security of information and technology, and in particular the sustainment of onshore capacity and British expertise to carry out military research and development vital for the national interest.

Submarines: Accidents

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what collisions between Royal Navy submarines and other vessels took place between 1979 and 1997; and which vessels of which class were involved in each collision.

John Hutton: The Trafalgar Class submarine HMS Trenchant and the Swiftsure Class submarine HMS Sceptre snagged fishing nets in November 1990 and November 1989 respectively. The Churchill Class submarine HMS Conqueror collided with a private yacht in 1988, as did the Oberon Class submarines HMS Otus and HMS Opportune in 1988 and 1992 respectively.
	Information is not held centrally for the period 1979 to 1988 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Water

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the EU Water Initiative Africa Working Group towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation.

Michael Foster: Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most off-track against the water and sanitation targets. The European Union (EU) is addressing this problem and last year disbursed nearly £1 billion to the water sector in Africa. The EU Africa Working Group (AWG) works with the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) to improve the effectiveness of this aid. The European Commission recognises that improvements can be made to the way the AWG is structured and recently carried out an internal evaluation of the group that concluded that its roles, responsibilities and procedures need clarifying. The AWG has responded by agreeing to redesign the Project Logical Framework, so that the roles of all stakeholders are more clearly identified and the activities of the group can be more closely monitored.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is this year co-chairing the AWG with AMCOW. This has led to a strengthened engagement with African partners and donors to ensure that future aid provided to Africa more closely matches the needs of those countries to meet the water and sanitation targets. Other progress has also been made by the AWG, notably the development of the Africa-EU Statement on Sanitation that supports the eTekwini Declaration on Sanitation signed by 32 African Ministers in Durban in February 2008. Strong and clear commitments were given by African leaders to give higher priority to sanitation, make further funds available and take concrete action to meet the MDG target.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not offer staff additional leave for Christmas shopping, nor does it provide Christmas bonus payments.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Michael Foster: Nine laptops and two mobile phones were lost/stolen from the Department for International Development (DFID) during the period 2007-08.
	Replacement values are not recorded centrally and an exercise to obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.
	All DFID laptops have secure encryption technology and no data have been put at risk.

Departmental Secondment

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Department in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold records of inward or outward secondments prior to 2005. The table shows the total number of staff seconded to or from DFID at 31 March in each of the following years:
	
		
			   Inward secondments  Outward secondments 
			 2005 96 50 
			 2006 66 53 
			 2007 74 62 
			 2008 59 70 
		
	
	Staff are seconded to and from a wide range of organisations including international organisations (e.g. World Bank), bilateral aid donors, other UK Government Departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Secondments are typically for periods of between one and three years.
	We cannot provide details of the cost of each secondment since we do not maintain these records centrally. Individual DFID departments are directly responsible for meeting or reimbursing any costs to the secondee's home organisation.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department's provision for strengthening government health systems in developing countries meets the needs of women and girls in those countries.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development's (DFID) approach to strengthening health systems seeks to diagnose critical problems and identify needs for strengthening in each country. This enables us to design the best response and set appropriate priorities, including assessing the needs of women and girls, their use of services and any barriers they face. There may be a need for targeted services or approaches to reach specific groups, such as reproductive health services for adolescent girls. DFID also recognises that monitoring the implementation and results of health systems strengthening needs a gender dimension to see if strategies are working.
	Progress on strengthening health systems in poor countries is also vital if we are to accelerate progress towards achieving the maternal health millennium development goal. This is why, along with UN health agencies and a wide range of donors and country partners, DFID has championed the International Health Partnership designed to strengthen health systems and improve in-country donor coordination. To help ensure that investments in health systems reach women and children we are working with countries to help remove barriers that stop poor people using health services. This includes support to countries to remove health user fees so that services for children and pregnant women are free at the point of use.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist in AIDS education in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government are providing £8.5 billion of support to education in developing countries over the 10-year period to 2015-16. A significant proportion of these funds will be used in African countries where HIV prevalence is high.
	In most of our 22 priority countries, we are either supporting the development of strategies for educating young people about the threat of AIDS (e.g. in Mozambique) or encouraging countries to mainstream AIDS in their education sector plan (e.g. in Zambia). All of our 22 priority countries are addressing the impact of HIV in their education sector plans (i.e. on teacher attrition).
	Education, including sexual and reproductive health education, is one of the most significant factors in preventing the spread of HIV in the next generation. The UK Government continue to work with partner governments to raise awareness about the importance of education as a means for preventing and mitigating the impact of the AIDS pandemic. The UK also provides substantial support for UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNFPA who are particularly active in AIDS education work.
	Further information on DFID's HIV/AIDS strategy is available in 'Achieving Universal Access: the UK's Strategy for Halting and Reversing the Spread of HIV in the Developing World'. This is available in the Library of the House and on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Developing Countries: Maternity Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the establishment of political initiatives for the purpose of meeting the Millennium Development Goals on maternal health.

Ivan Lewis: In September 2007, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Stoltenberg of Norway and other world leaders launched the Global Campaign for the Health MDGs and the Network of Global Leaders on MDGs 4 and 5. The Network of Global Leaders includes several heads of state including President Kikwete of Tanzania, President Bachelet of Chile, and President Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.
	In September 2008, Prime Minister Brown and World Bank President Robert Zoellick launched the High Level Task Force on Innovative International Financing for Health Systems. The task force was established in response to the call for an additional US$ 30 billion to save the lives of 3 million mothers and 7 million babies. Other task force members include finance minister Giulio Tremonti of Italy, and Foreign Ministers Bernard Kouchner of France and Stephen Smith of Australia.
	Further information on the Global Campaign for the Health MDGs and the High Level Task Force is available on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Development Aid: EC Grants and Loans

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the value in euros was of the UK share of costs of development activities financed from the EC budget and attributed to his Department in each of the last five financial years; what his estimate of the figure for 2008-09 is; and on what date the figure for 2009-10 will be decided.

Douglas Alexander: Final EC attribution figures are not available until two years after the actual spending year. The Department for International Development (DFID) received the following actual attribution share for the last five years.
	
		
			   € million 
			 2006-07 1035 
			 2005-06 1024 
			 2004-05 1024 
			 2003-04 1140 
			 2002-03 1166 
		
	
	The estimate for financial year 2007-08 is €1040 million and the estimate for the current financial year 2008-09 is €1020 million. An actual figure for the next financial year, 2009-10, will not be decided until August 2011.

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) summits,  (b) conferences and  (c) seminars his Department has hosted since January 2008 at which a primary subject for discussion was the impact of the economic situation on matters within his Department's responsibility.

Gareth Thomas: Responding to the economic downturn is a top priority for the Department for International Development (DFID). Conference and seminars are some of the methods used to engage stakeholders in this work and ensure action is coordinated and effective.
	DFID has held many meetings regarding the financial crisis and its effects upon vulnerable and developing countries in the last year, most notably the recent 9 to 10 March DFID Annual Conference.
	In addition, Ministers and officials have regular engagements with other organisations including relevant Government Departments on a range of issues relating to the economy.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1743W, on Palestinians: international assistance, what the monthly  (a) salary and  (b) other employment costs for the information officer employed by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Gaza with support from his Department are; under which categories his Department's contribution towards the information officer will be spent; and what plans his Department has to support the role beyond April 2009.

Douglas Alexander: The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Information Officer is a key post drawing together good quality reporting and analysis on humanitarian needs to enable donors to provide an effective response. The Department for International Development (DFID), at OCHA's request, provided funding for a short term three month post to cover a gap at OCHA while a long term secondee for this role was found. The secondee from another OCHA partner has now been engaged. The short-term post started on 23 February and will end on 22 May; DFID will not be providing further support after this date.
	DFID provides funding for the staff costs associated with the short-term post. The daily rate for the Information Officer is £415. DFID also funds the costs of travel and expenses related to the short-term post, and up to £212 per day for accommodation and subsistence (as per standard UN rates) for 90 days in Jerusalem.

Palestinians: International Assistance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agreement has been reached with the Palestinian Authority about mechanisms for the delivery and distribution of UK aid to Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: At the Sharm El-Sheikh conference, the international donor community agreed that aid to Gaza should be delivered through existing international and regional mechanisms. Established mechanisms for aid delivery in Gaza include the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the European Commission's PEGASE. The UK will continue to use these and also continue to fund non-governmental organisations with staff on the ground in Gaza.
	The UK also supports people in Gaza through our financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority's budget of which 50 per cent. is spent in Gaza. Since January last year, we have provided £59 million to the Palestinian Authority through the World Bank Trust Fund and the European Commission's PEGASE mechanism. We will continue to stay in close dialogue with the Palestinian Authority on the most appropriate aid delivery mechanisms in Gaza.

Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid has been provided by  (a) the UK and  (b) the EU to each region of Sri Lanka in the last (i) six months and (ii) two years; and what proportion of UK aid to Sri Lanka has been spent on (A) medical supplies, (B) food supplies, (C) housing and (D) education in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: In the last six months, since September 2008, the Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £5,000,000 of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka.
	Over the last two years (excluding the last six months) DFID has provided £1,781,740 of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka. The vast majority of this humanitarian aid supported activities of vulnerable and internally displaced populations in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
	The latest data on EU aid are from 2007, as official data for 2008 are not yet available. In 2007, EC aid payments to Sri Lanka were €39.34 million (£26.91 million at exchange rate £1 = €1.4615). The EU aid data are not available by region.
	All DFID humanitarian contributions are provided non-earmarked to Agency appeals and therefore cannot be broken down into region or supplies; with the exception of the £250,000 committed to IOM and £250,000 committed to the WFP. These funds are specifically for the transportation of inter agency relief items to the internally displaced populations in the north of Sri Lanka.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on the humanitarian situation in Sudan of the recent revocation of the operating licences of international non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 20W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr. Clarke).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bahrain: Politics and Government

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the territorial sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain; what assessment he has made of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government received no representations regarding the territorial sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
	The Kingdom of Bahrain is a sovereign and independent state and a member of the UN. We refute any suggestion to the contrary.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Gillian Merron: The information required is held separately in various Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departments, all of which hold records relating to various losses and thefts of both personal property and official furnishings, including IT equipment losses.
	As this information is not held centrally, providing an accurate answer would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1239-40W, on departmental public expenditure, what estimate he has made of the additional sum each of his Department's overseas posts will require in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10 to maintain the purchasing power of each of their local budgets.

David Miliband: The information is as follows:
	 2008-09
	As of December 2008, a total of 186 posts required additional funds to maintain the purchasing power of their local budget. The total value of this was £59.20 million.
	The following table outlines the posts that required additional funds and the value of the funds required.
	 2009-10
	The amount of additional funds required for each post will depend on the value of sterling against foreign currencies over the course of the year. We estimate that at current exchange rates, an additional £30 million will be needed to maintain purchasing power.
	
		
			  Post  Total OPM impact as of December 2008 (£000) 
			 Abu Dhabi 395.75 
			 Abuja 1,058.78 
			 Accra 259.86 
			 Addis Ababa 141.39 
			 Algiers 339.34 
			 Amman 593.00 
			 Amsterdam 136.20 
			 Anguilla 47.33 
			 Ankara 401.95 
			 Ashgabat 85.42 
			 Asmara 29.12 
			 Astana 146.23 
			 Athens 631.70 
			 Atlanta 176.66 
			 Auckland 9.45 
			 Baghdad 773.81 
			 Bahrain 120.34 
			 Baku 387.76 
			 Bandar Seri Begawan 85.11 
			 Bangkok 392.90 
			 Banjul 81.62 
			 Basra 368.96 
			 Beijing 1,374.69 
			 Beirut 310.97 
			 Belgrade 453.89 
			 Belmopan 170.75 
			 Berlin 872.36 
			 Berne 483.56 
			 Bogota 375.72 
			 Bordeaux 17.86 
			 Boston 169.48 
			 Brasilia 529.07 
			 Bratislava 165.81 
			 Bridgetown 219.30 
			 Brisbane 26.91 
			 Brussels 1,701.03 
			 Bucharest 182.27 
			 Budapest 316.09 
			 Buenos Aires 624.21 
			 Cairo 456.27 
			 Canberra 300.18 
			 Cape Town 25.50 
			 Caracas 547.06 
			 Castries 26.36 
			 Chennai 65.57 
			 Chicago 230.69 
			 Chisinau 117.68 
			 Chongqing 219.85 
			 Colombo 486.48 
			 Copenhagen 97.27 
			 Dakar 84.86 
			 Damascus 151.03 
			 Dar Es Salaam 151.54 
			 Dhaka 453.41 
			 Doha 333.04 
			 Dubai 737.09 
			 Dublin 480.63 
			 Dushanbe 90.29 
			 Dusseldorf 586.74 
			 Ekaterinburg 72.64 
			 Freetown 120.24 
			 Gaborone 16.64 
			 Geneva 675.60 
			 Georgetown 95.73 
			 Grand Cayman 26.66 
			 Grand Turk 61.32 
			 Guangzhou 490.53 
			 Guatemala City 136.62 
			 Hanoi 216.46 
			 Havana 173.65 
			 Helsinki 337.74 
			 Ho Chi Minh City 100.10 
			 Hong Kong 743.04 
			 Honiara 26.67 
			 Houston 220.27 
			 Islamabad 485.29 
			 Istanbul 395.15 
			 Jakarta 233.47 
			 Jerusalem 361.28 
			 Johannesburg 21.68 
			 Kabul 1,446.03 
			 Kampala 123.73 
			 Karachi 148.22 
			 Kathmandu 32.95 
			 Khartoum 483.97 
			 Kiev 346.55 
			 Kigali 84.09 
			 Kingston 477.20 
			 Kinshasa 318.95 
			 Kolkata 27.01 
			 Kuala Lumpur 283.21 
			 Kuwait 493.12 
			 La Paz 125.01 
			 Lagos 1,376.79 
			 Lille 19.33 
			 Lilongwe 81.43 
			 Lima 253.19 
			 Lisbon 333.44 
			 Ljubljana 136.37 
			 Los Angeles 331.05 
			 Luanda 163.16 
			 Lusaka 184.61 
			 Luxembourg 92.36 
			 Lyon 15.30 
			 Madrid 1,384.83 
			 Manila 406.68 
			 Maputo 199.63 
			 Marseille 0.47 
			 Melbourne 50.05 
			 Mexico City 301.34 
			 Minsk 82.27 
			 Montevideo 229.84 
			 Montreal 16.92 
			 Moscow 590.09 
			 Mumbai 77.72 
			 Munich 152.92 
			 Muscat 328.45 
			 Nairobi 742.07 
			 New Delhi 525.75 
			 New York BCG 594.17 
			 New York UKMIS 647.20 
			 Nicosia 404.10 
			 Osaka 411.22 
			 Oslo 125.11 
			 Ottawa 277.22 
			 Panama City 108.17 
			 Paris 1,881.24 
			 Perth 22.87 
			 Phnom Penh 180.79 
			 Plymouth 60.92 
			 Port Louis 100.45 
			 Port Moresby 95.43 
			 Port of Spain 251.69 
			 Prague 473.18 
			 Pretoria 76.24 
			 Pristina 156.59 
			 Quito 115.63 
			 Rabat 331.98 
			 Rangoon 222.78 
			 Riga 159.62 
			 Rio de Janeiro 259.49 
			 Riyadh 877.42 
			 Rome 1,295.10 
			 San Francisco 196.27 
			 San Jose 97.86 
			 Sanaa 302.14 
			 Santiago 188.77 
			 Santo Domingo 51.52 
			 Sao Paulo 334.88 
			 Sarajevo 182.57 
			 Shanghai 530.04 
			 Singapore 469.54 
			 Skopje 250.24 
			 Sofia 289.02 
			 St. Georges 6.73 
			 St. Johns 11.45 
			 St. Petersburg 259.26 
			 Stockholm 265.15 
			 Strasbourg 8.37 
			 Suva 87.29 
			 Sydney 90.33 
			 Taipei 232.49 
			 Tallinn 158.16 
			 Tashkent 92.14 
			 Tbilisi 221.92 
			 Tehran 773.40 
			 Tel Aviv 577.53 
			 The Hague 384.80 
			 Tirana 76.69 
			 Tokyo 2,055.56 
			 Toronto 107.69 
			 Tortola 36.88 
			 Tripoli 392.85 
			 Tunis 151.92 
			 Ulaanbaatar 46.07 
			 Valletta 131.26 
			 Vancouver 39.23 
			 Vienna 659.49 
			 Vilnius 158.88 
			 Warsaw 539.53 
			 Washington 1,365.97 
			 Wellington 27.92 
			 Yaounde 109.04 
			 Yerevan 125.08 
			 Zagreb 236.49 
			 Total 59,226.09

Departmental Security

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many breaches of  (a) physical and  (b) data security occurred at each of his Department's (i) domestic and (ii) overseas premises in each year for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The information required is held separately in various Foreign and Commonwealth Office departments and embassies, all of which hold records that relate to breaches of physical and data security at home and overseas.
	As this information is not held centrally, we are not able to provide an answer without incurring disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1198W, on diplomatic services, from what budget the funding for special representatives and special envoys to particular countries and regions is drawn.

Gillian Merron: Some special representatives have been serving members of the diplomatic service with regional expertise. Their salary and administrative costs have been met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
	Where external specialists have been appointed to a special representative role, they have normally been recruited on short-term contracts funded by the FCO.
	Other special envoys (for example those appointed by the Prime Minister) are normally unpaid but may have travel expenses refunded by the FCO.

Diplomatic Service: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1198W, on diplomatic services, what the annual cost to the public purse of each special representative and special envoy is; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Only one of the special representatives listed in the answer of 27 February 2009 is still serving in that role.
	The special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan is a member of the diplomatic service in senior civil service pay band 3. The pay range for civil servants in pay band 3 is currently £99,960 to £205,000.
	Other special envoys (for example those appointed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister) are normally unpaid but may have travel expenses refunded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

European Union

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on visits by its staff to Brussels in 2007-08; and how many such visits were made.

Gillian Merron: Between January 2008 and December 2008, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff made the following visits:
	156 individual journeys, UK to Brussels or Brussels to UK, were made by air at a total cost of £33,247.
	3044 journeys were made to Brussels and Paris on "Eurostar" between January 2008 and December 2008 at a total cost of £454,534. The information held does not allow us to separate "Eurostar" travel between the two destinations.
	The FCO changed travel provider in January 2008. Breaking down travel expenditure to these destinations before this date would incur disproportionate cost.

Iran: Bahrain

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the sovereignty and independence of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 13 March 2009
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) noted recent media reports that an adviser to the Supreme Leader in Iran had claimed Iranian sovereignty over the Kingdom of Bahrain. The FCO welcomes the fact that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has made clear this is not the view of the Iranian government.
	The UK's view is clear and firm, and we made this public in a press statement at the time: the Kingdom of Bahrain is a sovereign and independent state and a member of the UN. We refute any suggestion to the contrary.

Iran: Banks

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take in response to the Financial Action Task Force's statement of 25 February 2009 on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government's response to the Financial Action Taskforce's statement of 25 February 2009 on Iran is led by the Treasury. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 9 March 2009 by my hon. Friend Ian Pearson, Minister of State at the Treasury, in response to his question of 4 March 2009, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter,  Official Report, column 100-01W. The response reads:
	'The Treasury has issued an advisory notice to all businesses regulated under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and all other persons authorised by the Financial Services Authority alerting them to the high-risk nature of transactions with Iran due to the serious deficiencies in its systems to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing. The Treasury is also actively considering what further steps may be necessary to ensure the UK financial sector is protected from this risk, and is in discussion with international partners.'

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the application of financial sanctions against  (a) individuals,  (b) entities and  (c) organisations involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government fully support the application of financial and other sanctions against individuals, entities and organisations that are involved with, or support, Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Five UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) require Iran to suspend enrichment related activities, three of which impose sanctions. The UNSCRs require states to freeze assets owned or controlled by individuals, entities and organisations involved with, or supporting, nuclear activities in Iran. They must also exercise vigilance over Iranian banks.
	The Government also strongly support the Common Position and Council Regulation adopted by the EU which implemented UNSCR 1803 in full. Indeed, the EU went beyond the UN by extending financial vigilance against Iran, including a further autonomous asset freeze on individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, but not specifically listed by the UN.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 5 December 2008 from the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on wild tigers, reference FD4668.

Gillian Merron: The hon. Member's letter was replied to on 11 March 2009.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations in respect of the reported rocket and mortar attack on the western Negev by Islamic Jihad on 26 February 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK has been consistent in its condemnation of all rocket attacks on Israel.
	We are committed to finding a solution to the conflict in the Middle East that allows Israel to feel secure in the region, alongside a viable Palestinian state.

Morocco and Israel: EU External Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the labelling of produce originating from territories occupied by  (a) Morocco and  (b) Israel.

Bill Rammell: On the labelling of produce originating from territories occupied by Israel, various Government departments such as the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Food Standards Agency are working together to provide retailers with clearer voluntary guidance on labelling best practice for produce sourced from the occupied Palestinian territories, that comply with our European Commission and World Trade Organisation obligations.
	There are no comparable guidelines in place for commercial products originating from the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The Government, however, maintain the position that the Government of Morocco, as the 'de facto' administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities carried out under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara.
	There are currently only two UK vessels operating in the waters off Western Sahara under the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement. All the fish caught are landed in Dakhla, Western Sahara and sold through the local market.

Shanghai World Expo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when work to construct the British pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will  (a) commence and  (b) be completed.

Bill Rammell: A ceremony was held in Shanghai on 12 March 2009 to mark the start of building work. The pavilion will be ready before the soft opening of the Expo, scheduled for 1 April 2010.

Shanghai World Expo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British businesses will be participating in the British pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Bill Rammell: Five companies have so far signed up as core sponsors: AstraZeneca, Barclays, BP, Diageo and GKN. We expect a large number of British companies to participate in a programme of business-focussed events during the six months of the Expo.

Shanghai World Expo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which streams the funding for the British pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 is being drawn.

Bill Rammell: Funding will come from the public and private sectors including: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Trade and Investment, British Council, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Communities and Local Government, English Regional Development Agencies and core sponsors AstraZeneca, Barclays, BP, Diageo and GKN.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken together with the international community to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to respect human rights in its conflict with the Tamil Tigers.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 March 2009
	We have repeatedly called on both sides in the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. On 3 February 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary released a joint statement with US Secretary of State Clinton on this matter. On 23 February 2009, the EU released a statement calling on the Sri Lankan authorities to take decisive action to tackle human rights abuses, to guarantee press freedom and to disarm paramilitary groups in government controlled areas.
	The UK, both independently and as part of the EU, regularly addresses the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and plans to do so again at the UN Human Rights Council which will be in session from 2-27 March 2009.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to support internationally the safety of civilians in the ongoing conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 12 March 2009
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, our priority is for the safety of civilians trapped in the fighting in northern Sri Lanka. The Department for International Development have provided funding for two internationally mandated protection agencies: the International Committee of the Red Cross which assists civilians in the conflict zone; and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees which assists Internally Displaced Persons who have fled the conflict.
	At the highest levels, we have repeatedly called on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilians at all times. We continue to raise the safety of civilians with international partners and the Sri Lankan Government. In a joint statement with US Secretary Clinton on 2 February 2009, my right hon. Friend urged both sides to respond appropriately to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by allowing the wounded to receive medical treatment, for civilians to leave the conflict area and for unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies.
	On 23 February 2009 the EU called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to be safely delivered and for civilians to leave the conflict area. We welcome the recent visit by John Holmes, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and hope this leads to an improvement in the situation for civilians on the ground.

Tamils: Resettlement

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the conditions of resettlement camps established for Tamil refugees; and what assessment he has made of their compatibility with international standards.

Bill Rammell: We have had regular discussions with the Sri Lankan Government on the camps being set up for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
	We welcome the recent statement by the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the temporary nature of IDP camps. We welcome the commitment to return 20 per cent. of people to their place of origin by the end of April 2009 and the remaining 80 per cent. by the end of 2009.
	We are aware that certain humanitarian agencies have been given access to camps for IDPs. We welcome the recent visit to Sri Lanka by John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, and hope this leads to an improvement in the humanitarian situation in the camps.
	We continue to press for unrestricted access to all IDP sites for the humanitarian community, including donors, and we are working with the Government and international agencies to ensure that all IDP sites meet international standards, including freedom of movement and protection.

Thailand: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government plan to make a financial contribution to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' 2009 programme in Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) will not contribute directly to this programme, but has contributed £2.5 million in voluntary, un-earmarked funding to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2008-09. This is available for OHCHR's programmes across the world including those in Thailand. We expect to make a similar contribution next financial year.

Venezuela: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1210W, on Venezuela: anti-Semitism, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letters written by HM Ambassador in Caracas to  (a) the synagogue's rabbi and  (b) to the leader of the Jewish community in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: I have today placed a copy of both letters in the Library of the House.

Venezuela: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the attack on the Sinaan Mordejay Community Centre in Caracas on 26 February 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: A pipe bomb was thrown at the Sinaan Mordejay Community Centre on 26 February 2009. While there was no major damage and no injuries, we are concerned by a number of reports of anti-Semitism in Venezuela in recent months. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which state the Government recognise as the administering power in Western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: Morocco exercises 'de facto' administrative control over part of the territory, but the UK regards the status of the territory as undetermined pending a negotiated outcome providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK continues to support UN-led efforts currently underway to resolve the ongoing dispute.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions his Department has put on banks receiving money from his Department; what discussions he has had with banks since January 2009 on this issue; what response was received from each bank; which banks have sought financial assistance from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: As part of its investment, the Government have agreed a range of conditions with banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme. For more detail, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Chancellor on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 540-41.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Banks: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which  (a) executive and  (b) non-executive board members at each bank which has received support from the public purse in the last two years were in post prior to the provision of that support; and what remuneration each received in the last year for which information is available.

Ian Pearson: Published information on this topic would be set out in the bank's audited annual reports.

Banks: Finance

Neil Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plans to prevent further off-shoring of financial services by those banks in which the Government has a large stake.

Ian Pearson: These are commercial matters for the boards of each bank.

Banks: Pensions

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements his Department put in place to examine the pension arrangements in place for directors of banks for which public funding has been provided at the time of provision of that funding.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 March 2009
	As part of their investment, the Government have agreed a range of conditions with banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme, including restrictions on bonuses for senior executives—both for 2008 when the Government expect no cash bonuses to be paid to board members, and for remuneration policy going forward, where incentive schemes will be reviewed and linked to long-term value creation, taking account of risk, and restricting the potential for "rewards for failure".
	UKFI has been set up to manage the Treasury's shareholdings in recapitalised banks. UKFI has a role in scrutinising the non-lending recapitalisation conditions, including on remuneration policy, to protect the interest of the taxpayer as a shareholder.
	Additionally, banks participating in the Government's Asset Protection Scheme (APS) will have to develop a sustainable long-term remuneration policy. This means reviewing policies and implementing new policies consistent with the FSA's code of remuneration practice announced on 26 February.
	Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley have their own conditions on remuneration—these are set out in their respective Shareholder Relationship Framework documents.

Banks: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, East of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1618-19W, on banks: finance, if he will publish on his Department's website a copy of each of the placing and open offer agreements referred to in the answer.

Ian Pearson: The placing and open offer agreements for the recapitalisation of RBS, HBOS and Lloyds, which were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 18 November 2008, and were also posted on the Treasury's website on 20 February 2009.

Banks: Risk Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made by the Financial Services Authority of the effectiveness of risk management in banks which are in receipt of public money.

Ian Pearson: These assessments are matters for the Financial Services Authority.

Banks: USA

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the US administration on the eligibility of UK banks with US subsidiaries for assistance under the troubled assets relief programme and its successor schemes.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations and international partners. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

CCLA Investment Management

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether deposits by registered charities, churches and local authorities, whose funds are managed by CCLA Investment Management Ltd, are  (a) guaranteed and  (b) underwritten by the Government.

Ian Pearson: Protection for retail deposits is provided by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), an independent body, established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The extent to which the FSCS is able to provide protection to churches and registered charities both in general and in this specific case depends on a range of factors including whether the person or organisation whose funds are managed is an eligible claimant under FSCS rules, the nature of the regulated activities carried on by the firm were it to be in default and the amount and nature of the claim that is made.
	Churches and registered charities may be eligible claimants depending on the nature of the organisation and its size. Local authorities are not eligible to claim compensation under the rules of the FSCS.
	The FSCS rules are made by the FSA (and can be found on its website www.fsa.gov.uk). Guidance may also be found on the FSCS website at:
	www.fscs.org.uk

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Angela Eagle: It is not HM Treasury policy to offer staff additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping or Christmas bonus payments.

Currencies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many local currencies, other than the Lewes pound, are circulating in the UK; what assessment he has made of their effect on local economies; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: No assessment has been made by the Treasury on local voucher schemes, such as the one currently being operated in Lewes.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 584-85W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: Statistics that we hold for each website maintained by the Department, in each of the last 12 months are as follows:
	
		
			  Unique visitors 
			   2008 
			   Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep 
			 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk 266,462 236,654 222,414 212,796 164,583 126,319 80,548 
			 www.isb.gov.uk 5,136 5,395 6,249 6,359 4,574 3,796 2,092 
			 www.ges.gov.uk 5,505 5,380 4,805 4,786 4,183 3,829 6,182 
			 www.gsr.gov.uk 17,065 25,158 27,236 23,082 20,547 17,065 12,119 
			 www.euro.gov.uk — — — — — — — 
			 www.financialinclusion-taskforce.org.uk — — — — — — — 
			 www.financial-reporting.gov.uk — — — — — — — 
			 http://thegfp.treasury.gov.uk — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Total 
			 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk 465,585 245,986 142,120 173,607 152,542 2,489,616 
			 www.isb.gov.uk 4,235 4,506 3,413 3,800 3,973 53,528 
			 www.ges.gov.uk 9,060 6,208 4,860 7,854 7,801 64,948 
			 www.gsr.gov.uk 9,583 9,269 8,324 9,379 8,851 187,678 
			 www.euro.gov.uk 17,541 16,301 17,032 20,908 15,472 (1)— 
			 www.financialinclusion-taskforce.org.uk 985 353 1,022 1,173 1,156 (1)— 
			 www.financial-reporting.gov.uk 4,463 4,634 3,439 3,709 2,879 (1)— 
			 http://thegfp.treasury.gov.uk — — — — — (2)21,677 
			 (1). Statistics available only from October 2008.  (2) Monthly breakdowns unavailable.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent edition of HM Revenue and Customs' Euro Handbook.

Ian Pearson: Copies are available in the Library.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when  (a) the HM Revenue and Customs' and  (b) the Valuation Office Agency's euro changeover plan was last updated; and if he will place a copy of each in the Library.

Ian Pearson: The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Valuation Office Agency's Euro Changeover Plans were last updated in 2006. Copies are available in the Library.

Equitable Life: Compensation

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the planned timetable is for establishing the ex-gratia payment scheme for older people who have lost money with Equitable Life.

Ian Pearson: The Government intend to set up an ex-gratia payment scheme for those who have suffered a disproportionate impact that can pay out as swiftly as possible. The Government will work on the practical issues in parallel with the work that it has asked Sir John Chadwick to undertake. Until the work is complete, it will not possible to make an estimate of how long it will take to make payments under the scheme. The Government will keep the House updated and report back on progress at regular intervals.

Income Tax

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the minimum level of  (a) weekly and  (b) annual household income is at which income tax first becomes payable for (i) a single pensioner, (ii) a pensioner couple, (iii) a working-age single person, (iv) a working-age couple, (v) a lone parent with one child and (vi) two parents with one child.

Stephen Timms: Net tax liability, and the effective tax rate paid, is calculated by setting the tax credits and child benefit payments a family might receive against any income tax and national insurance contributions paid by them. As a result of the financial support provided by tax credits four out of 10 families in the whole population now pay no net tax.
	Tax credits mean that, including national insurance contributions, from January 2009:
	a single pensioner pays no net tax until they are earning at least £9,030 if they are aged 65 to 74 or £9,180 if they are aged 75 and over;
	a pensioner couple pays no net tax until one partner is earning at least £9,030 if they are aged 65 to 74 or £9,180 if they are aged 75 and over;
	a working-age single person, aged over 25 and working full-time pays no net tax until they are earning at least £9,780;
	a working-age single-earner couple, with the earner aged over 25 and working full-time pays no net tax until they are earning at least £12,300; and
	a lone parent with one child or a single-earner family of two parents with one child pays no net tax until they are earning at least £17,550.

Lehman Brothers

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens who held Lehman Brothers-backed securities at the time of the bank's collapse; whether he has commissioned research on the ways in which such products were marketed in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) estimates that around 6,000 people in the UK hold retail investment products fully backed by securities issued by Lehman Brothers, based on data provided by the firms involved in marketing them. FSA rules require firms marketing such products to explain fully all the risks involved. Investors who believe risks were not properly explained to them have the right to complain, first to the firm which sold the product and, if they are not satisfied with the firm's response, to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Quantitative Easing

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Government implemented its policy on quantitative easing; and how much funding has been provided through using quantitative easing to date.

Ian Pearson: In an exchange of letters between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England on 3 March 2009, the Chancellor of the Exchequer authorised the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to use the Asset Purchase Facility for monetary policy purposes. The Monetary Policy Committee announced a programme of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves on 5 March. This is set out at:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2009/019.htm

WORK AND PENSIONS

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there were in  (a) the UK and  (b) Wimbledon constituency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: In January 2009 there were 1,282,645 jobseeker's allowance claimants in the UK and 906 in Wimbledon constituency. These are based on seasonally unadjusted figures.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there were in  (a) the UK and  (b) West Chelmsford constituency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: In January 2009 there were 1,282,645 jobseeker's allowance claimants in the UK and 1,544 in West Chelmsford constituency. These numbers are based on seasonally unadjusted figures.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change in the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants resident in  (a) Scarborough and Whitby constituency and  (b) the UK was between 2007 and 2008.

Tony McNulty: In December 2008 there were 362,960 more people claiming jobseeker's allowance in the UK than in December 2007, and 600 more in Scarborough and Whitby. These numbers are based on seasonally unadjusted figures.
	 Note:
	This is the seasonally unadjusted figure for the UK and has been used for comparison purposes as seasonally adjusted figures are not available for parliamentary constituencies. The headline change reported for the UK is 351,500.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who will have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in October 2009.

Tony McNulty: While we do not predict future levels of unemployment, or of people unemployed for over a year, we are planning for the impact of higher numbers of long-term unemployed in the coming months.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there were in  (a) the UK and  (b) Banbury constituency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: In January 2009 there were 1,282,645 jobseeker's allowance claimants in the UK and 1,505 in Banbury constituency. These are based on seasonally unadjusted figures.

Incapacity Benefit

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance the Government is making available to existing long-term incapacity benefit claimants.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have already invested heavily to support existing incapacity benefit customers into work, by ensuring they can volunteer for any appropriate back to work support available in Pathways to Work. Our recent White Paper announced a strong package of new initiatives to provide further support to this group, including pilots of new innovative approaches such as the 'invest to save' pathfinders recommended by David Freud.

Child Maintenance

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the appropriateness of the range of allowable deductions from non-resident parents' income on which child maintenance is calculated.

Kitty Ussher: The current child maintenance scheme, which applies to maintenance applications effective on or after 3 March 2003, is designed to be simple for parents to understand and straightforward to administer. It is intended to strike a fair balance between the needs of children and the reasonable expectation that non-resident parents are left with sufficient money to live on.
	To that end, the range of allowable deductions that either parent can ask to be taken into account when calculating the maintenance liability is necessarily limited and there are no plans to revisit the range of allowable deductions in the current scheme.

New Deal

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the contracting process for the flexible new deal.

Tony McNulty: For the procurement of flexible New Deal in the 14 Phase 1 contract packages, DWP will let contracts with a single lead entity. The 'Lead' entity will be accountable for overall delivery but may choose to subcontract out all, part or none of the provision. For Flexible New Deal a two stage tendering process was adopted.
	The use of a two-stage 'restricted' procedure, involves an initial Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage and then the issue of Invitation to Tenders (ItT) to those short-listed at PQQ stage. This helps to keep the amount of work, both for DWP and for potential suppliers within manageable limits, as we have a high level of interest. The two-stage process brings the dual benefits of maintaining competition and excluding (either voluntarily or directly) those organisations that have no realistic capacity to deliver a contract. This process includes a separate financial capability assessment at both stages of the evaluation process.
	The PQQ stage includes a number of questions to assess which bidders appear to have the strongest capacity to proceed to tender. The second stage tenders are evaluated based on the optimum combination of quality and price.
	Phase One FND procurement is now proceeding to a revised schedule and has taken account of the current economic climate and potential for volume increase. Short listed organisations have been given time to impact these changes on their tenders. We expect to identify preferred bidders during April and announce contracts by the end of May 2009. We still aim to begin delivery in October 2009. We plan for FND Phase Two to commence in spring 2009 and details will be published on the DWP website.

Medical Assistance

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department makes available to those with a medical condition which requires them to incur extra costs to maintain a temperature level in their homes.

Jonathan R Shaw: Some people with a medical condition will qualify for help through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits. These are awarded in recognition of the extra costs, which can include heating, which disabled people may incur. Those entitled to disability premiums will also receive additional payments during periods of very cold weather.
	Just over half of all people with a limiting long-standing illness, impairment or disability in Britain are over 60 years of age, and will qualify for winter fuel payments which provide a significant contribution to higher winter fuel costs.

Individual Budgets

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in possession of an individual budget.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department of Health ran an Individual Budget Pilot Programme from December 2005 to December 2007 in 13 local authorities in England. Following the pilots, many of the people involved continue to use an individual budget and individual budgets are being increasingly implemented by councils.
	The last figures collected (Commission for Social Care Inspection, Annual Report 2007-08) showed that as at March 2008, nearly 4,800 people held an individual budget, with just under half having a direct payment as part of the arrangement.

Jobcentre Plus

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what further plans his Department has to reform Jobcentre Plus; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Department has no current plans to reform the way that Jobcentre Plus is organised.

Disability Living Allowance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to make blind people eligible for the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government are supportive of the aim to extend the higher rate mobility component to severely sight impaired people. We have had extensive discussions with the Royal National Institute of Blind People, MPs and others on the issue and these continue.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with which banks his Department has or has held contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department's banking contracts for the financial year 2008-09 facilitate the payment of customers' benefits and pensions. On one occasion this year we have also commissioned specialist advice from Citibank.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Lancashire are in receipt of pension credit.

Rosie Winterton: In Lancashire 55,320 households, 68,130 individuals are in receipt of Pension Credit.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy;
	(3)  what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months;
	(4)  what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department's policy is on encryption of data when it leaves departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HM Government. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures to which Departments must adhere.
	This Department is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security, assurance and the encryption of data.
	The Department's arrangements to ensure compliance with these measures comprise a system of self-assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review.
	Depending upon the circumstances of particular incidents involving staff, a range of sanctions are available to the Department, including disciplinary or administrative action and, in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings. Information is not collected centrally on the occasions when IT security policies have been broken by employees, and it would involve disproportionate cost to obtain these details.
	The Department does not publish its security hierarchy, as this could pose a threat to the security of information by exposing vulnerabilities which could be exposed for unlawful purposes.
	Similarly, it is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to electronic breaches of security of the Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information could enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Postal Services

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of letters sent by his Department were given to  (a) the Royal Mail and  (b) another postal services provider for delivery in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP postal volumes delivered by Royal Mail Group over the past 12 months were approximately 200 million items to customers; this was 67 per cent. of all DWP postal services.
	DWP postal volumes delivered by other postal providers over the same period are as follows:
	UK Mail—volume 95 million items via second class mail to DWP customers; 32 per cent of all DWP postal services; the final mile is still delivered by Royal Mail;
	Spring Global Mail—volume 2 million items for international mail to DWP customers; less than 1 per cent. of all DWP postal volumes.
	DWP remains committed to using Royal Mail postal services and we have developed a range of joint initiatives to further enhance our relationship and deliver postal efficiencies. DWP is also monitoring the developing postal marketplace for best value for money opportunities for taxpayers.

Departmental Translation Services

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many language translators are employed in each of his Department's executive agencies; and what the cost of translating services provided by such people was in the latest period for which information is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP provides a range of language translation services for customers across Great Britain (as Northern Ireland is excluded), namely:
	1. Face to face
	2. Telephone.
	3. Translating by a range of services which includes the translation of departmental information leaflets and other documents that are provided to customers in a range of ethnic languages, audio and Braille, as well as all publications for Welsh speaking customers living in Wales.
	4. We are also able to offer an ad hoc service to convert documents into easy read format.
	DWP has 154 staff with foreign language speaking skills which are used alongside their normal duties and for which they receive an annual allowance of £730 per annum. There are also 557 staff with foreign language speaking skills who provide additional cover and receive an annual allowance of £310 per annum. These services are used on an ad hoc basis and their overall cost is not maintained on a central basis.
	The Department routinely offers a bilingual service to customers living in Wales, generally delivered by members of staff, without any allowances being paid to them.
	NDPB's have access to our frameworks but we do not hold centrally any data relating to their specific spend, if any, via these services. To ascertain this would incur disproportionate cost.
	The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Type of service  Number of suppliers  2007-08 spend( 1)   (£ million) 
			 Face to face translation 5 1.7 
			 Telephone interpreting 1 1.8 
			 Ethnic translation (documents) 6 0.135 
			 Welsh language 2 0.066 
			 Braille 3 0.045 
			 Audio formats 3 0.036 
			 Easy read documents 1 (2)— 
			 (1) 2007-08 is the last full financial year of recorded data that we can provide. (2) Not available as included in creative design costs.

Disability Living Allowance: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many nationals of each non-UK EU member state were in receipt of disability living allowance at each rate in Hemel Hempstead in the most recent period in which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Invalidity Benefits: Costs

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the additional cost is estimated to be of the new rates of invalidity allowance in support of the alignment of the rates of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance in the first 12 months in which they have effect; what the estimated average increase in the relevant benefit payment to claimants will be as a result of the alignment; and what that increase will be expressed as a percentage.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 2 March 2009
	The White Paper, 'Raising expectations and increasing support', announced measures to smooth the transition to employment and support allowance for existing incapacity benefit customers by starting to align their benefit rates with employment and support allowance rates from April 2009. To begin the process of achieving alignment with employment and support allowance, those on contributory incapacity benefit with an age addition, including former invalidity benefit customers, will see their overall benefit increased in April 2009 by half of the Rossi index(1), rather than by the full Rossi index. Customers in receipt of severe disablement allowance with an age addition will receive an increase equivalent to the full Rossi increase.
	In 2009-10 there will be an estimated 660,000 customers receiving incapacity benefit with age additions(2). As a result of the White Paper changes, from April 2009 the benefit rate for these cases will be on average £3.20 per week higher than in 2008-09, an increase of 3.4 per cent.(3) For example, those on incapacity benefit with the higher age addition, and no other additions, will see their benefit increase from £102.25 per week in 2008-09 to £105.45 per week in 2009-10.
	Despite the increase in benefit rates for people with age additions, the total expenditure on these cases is expected to fall by nearly £180 million from 2008-09 to 2009-10 due to an expected reduction in the number of people claiming incapacity benefits(4).
	(1) The Retail Prices Index less housing costs.
	(2) Including those on invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance.
	(3) This excludes other additions that can be payable for some people claiming incapacity benefits such as adult dependency increases and child dependency increases.
	(4) Numbers are forecast to fall because employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefits in October 2008.

Natural Gas: Engineers

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1942W, on natural gas: engineers, what performance indicator the Health and Safety Executive has set for Capita's performance in promoting awareness of the new gas safety council; and when the Executive plans to publish its assessment of progress against this objective.

Jonathan R Shaw: Capita has a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to achieve at least 40 per cent. unprompted brand recognition of the New Gas Safe Register™ among gas consumers by the end of October 2009, rising to 60 per cent. by the end of October 2010 and 75 per cent. by the end of October 2011. A further KPI requires annual increases over the first five years of the contract in gas consumer awareness of gas safety risks and the need to use only a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas work. The KPIs will be measured through consumer surveys with the results published as soon as possible.

Occupational Therapy: Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people required to promote occupational therapy in social care in the next 10 years.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	No assessment has been made centrally as to the number of occupational therapists required, as social care employers are best placed to assess the social care needs of their local populations.
	Effective workforce planning is about delivering the best possible care by ensuring high quality staff with the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were receiving disability benefit in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information is not available about the number of people who are registered disabled and receiving disability benefits. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of attendance allowance and disability living allowance recipients 
			   Attendance allowance  Disability living allowance 
			  As at August each year  Copeland parliamentary constituency  Cumbria  Copeland parliamentary constituency  Cumbria 
			 2004 1,940 15,980 4,090 25,030 
			 2005 2,010 16,650 4,230 25,820 
			 2006 2,030 17,190 4,370 26,500 
			 2007 2,090 17,840 4,520 27,310 
			 2008 2,180 18,110 4,570 27,780 
			  Notes:  1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.  3. Figures are published on the DWP website: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp  Source:  DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which trade unions are recognised in his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions recognises three trade unions, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), FDA and Prospect.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will bring forward measures to assist local authorities in reducing the number of placements for looked-after children.

Beverley Hughes: Through the White Paper "Care Matters: Time for Change" and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 the Government have put in place a range of measures to improve the placement stability of looked after children and raise the quality of placement provision.
	Through the Fostering Changes training programme and the Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care and Social Pedagogy pilots we are taking action to help improve the range of support and skills for foster carers and residential workers to help them meet the needs of looked after children and prevent placement breakdown.
	We are also helping local authorities improve their commissioning arrangements for LAC placements through the Commissioning Support programme which will run until 2011.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many of the 17 early adopter local authorities for ContactPoint raised concerns about shielding in their most recent monthly assessment.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 5 February 2009
	The first operational stage of ContactPoint delivery began on 26 January. This allows all local authorities to start to shield a small proportion of records on ContactPoint. This precautionary measure is appropriate for the records of children who would be at risk of significant harm if their whereabouts was disclosed. This might include children in particularly vulnerable circumstances, such as children from families on police protection schemes; where one parent has been the victim of domestic violence or abuse; or, in certain cases, where the child has been adopted.
	We are working closely with 17 early adopter local authorities to identify and help them work through any issues. In their assessment at the end of January, 4 of these early adopters raised issues concerned with the effective implementation of this first operational stage and we are now working with them to resolve these issues. We remain committed to a prudent and incremental approach to implementation, and will continue to evaluate progress and adapt our approach as required.

Faith Schools: Islam

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many Muslim schools in England receive direct or indirect funding from foreign countries; and from which countries such funding is provided;
	(2)  how many complaints his Department has received on the use of physical punishment in Muslim schools in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many pupils in England are being educated in Muslim schools.

Jim Knight: There are Muslim schools in both the independent and maintained sectors. We do not collect information about the sources of direct or indirect funding for independent schools. Maintained faith schools receive recurrent funding from their local authority although this can be topped up from other sources, for example where there are extended school activities. Voluntary aided maintained schools usually receive 90 per cent. of funding for capital work from the Department and provide 10 per cent. themselves. The Department does not record the source of funding for the 10 per cent. contribution, or any other contributions towards voluntary aided capital projects.
	Information on the number of complaints received about the use of physical punishment in Muslim schools is not held centrally.
	There were 15,985 pupils in independent Muslim schools and 3,410 in maintained sector Muslim schools in January 2008.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils obtained five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C in  (a) England,  (b) Leicestershire and  (c) Leicester East constituency in 2008.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils( 1)  achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE and equivalent, 2008( 2) 
			   Percentage of pupils 
			 Leicester East parliamentary constituency(3) 63.8 
			 Leicestershire local authority 64.7 
			 England(4) 65.3 
			 (1) Figures are based on pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2 )Figures are based on revised data. (3 )Pupils attending maintained schools located in Leicester, East constituency. (4 )Figure includes all schools. 
		
	
	Information for all parliamentary constituencies will be placed in the House Libraries.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Young Offender Institutions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many young people in the secure estate achieved  (a) one GCSE at A* to G,  (b) five GCSEs at A* to G,  (c) five GCSEs at A* to G including English and mathematics,  (d) five GCSEs at A* to C and  (e) five GCSEs at A* to C including English and mathematics in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many young people in the secure estate sat GCSE examinations in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not held by the Department.

Grandparents: Parental Responsibility

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials of his Department and its predecessors have met representatives of the Grandparents Raising Children Network to discuss the rights of grandparents raising children since 2001.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not keep a central record of meetings with organisations. I am, therefore, unable to confirm whether any meetings have taken place with the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Network since it was set up in March 2008.

Organs: Donors

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in the consultation on organ donation and presumed consent.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	In September 2007 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health asked the independent Organ Donation Taskforce to examine the implications of moving to a system of presumed consent. The Taskforce consulted a wide range of stakeholders. Their report, "The potential impact of an opt out system for organ donation in the UK", was published with a written ministerial statement on 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 6WS. The report is available for viewing at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_090312
	and a copy has been placed in the Library.

Pupil Referral Units

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department holds on pupil referral units.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department currently collects data on:
	the number of pupil referral units in England;
	the overall number of pupils in pupil referral units and by:
	age
	gender
	ethnicity
	special educational needs (including those with a statement of special educational needs)
	those entitled to free school meals and the number of those taking up the option of free school meals
	the number who are solely registered in pupil referral units and the number who are dual registered in a pupil referral unit and a school or other provider, such as a college of further education;
	the number of teachers in pupil referral units and, of those, how many are full-time and how many are part-time;
	the number of support staff in pupil referral units, including teaching assistants, administrative staff and technicians;
	the amount of contact time for pupils by pupil age.
	We also hold some data on the attainment of pupils in pupil referral units but this is not collected by the Department. Attainment data for pupils in pupil referral units are collected by local authorities for key stage 1 pupils, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils, and by the exam boards for key stage 4 and key stage 5 pupils.
	We announced in the alternative provision White Paper, "Back on Track", published in May 2008, that we intend to publish data later this year on the attainment of pupils in pupil referral units. We have also collected data on attendance at pupil referral units in January this year and will publish them in May.
	Via the consistent financial reporting (CFR) data collection, the Department collects details of the income, expenditure and balances (surpluses/deficits) that have occurred during the previous financial year for all local authority maintained schools in England. CFR is a statutory return for all authority maintained schools with delegated budgets. However, for pupil referral units a CFR return is optional, and during the 2007-08 collection we received data from 55 PRUs.
	Via local authorities' budget statements, my Department collect details of local authorities planned expenditure on the provision of education at pupil referral units. Via this data collection, local authorities also provide details of the devolved school standards grant (including personalisation) allocated to PRUs.
	Local authorities are required to publish this information locally and consequently every local authority will have their own budget statement published on their own website. In addition, the DCSF publish this data via the Section 52 website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/localauthorities/section52/subPage. cfm?action=section52.default&ID=58

Pupils: Bullying

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will give guidance to schools on the nomination of a named staff contact for parents who are concerned about bullying incidents in school and on the journey to and from school.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 2 February 2009
	Our guidance 'Safe to Learn' provides specific advice to schools on complaints procedures for parents. It recommends that the first contact point to report concerns about bullying should be the class teacher or form teacher. The guidance provides a sample anti-bullying information sheet to be sent to parents, which could include a named contact for reporting concerns about bullying. We introduced legal provisions in the 2006 Education Act which gave school staff new powers to discipline pupils for bad behaviour outside the school gate. We have asked the Anti-Bullying Alliance and National Strategies to work with local authorities and schools to ensure the 'Safe to Learn' guidance is effectively implemented on the ground, and that schools make effective use of the other materials.

Pupils: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many school staff have received training on diabetes issues in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not collect this information.

Pupils: Internet

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect on school pupils' educational attainment of lack of access to the internet at home.

Jim Knight: Becta analysis of national attainment data has found the difference in attainment in maths and English between pupils with and without internet access (controlled for other variables) is equivalent to half a GCSE grade.
	In 2005 the Department commissioned the University of Sheffield to conduct a study of the educational impact of children's use of internet-connected computers at home. The aim was to look at identifying the effect on educational attainment due to lack of access to technology (Valentine et al, 2005).
	The study found that the use of computers at home was linked to higher levels of educational performance than expected in maths and English at Key Stage 2 and GCSE.
	From this assessment it was concluded that lack of access adversely affects pupils' educational attainment in maths and English at these levels.

Pupils: Obesity

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children have been diagnosed as medically unfit to attend school on the grounds of obesity or obesity-related disorders in the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on the number of children diagnosed unfit to attend school on the grounds of obesity or obesity-related disorders are not available.

Schools: Purbeck

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much of the funding to be made available to Dorset County Council for implementation of the recommendations of the review of school provision in Purbeck will be allocated for expenditure on  (a) secondary schools and  (b) proposed primary schools.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: School capital allocations were made available to local authorities at the beginning of the three year spending review period 2008-09 to 2010-11, to be prioritised locally in accordance with asset management plans.
	£70.8 million has been allocated to Dorset schools. Of this, £22.7 million is allocated directly to primary and secondary schools as Devolved Formula Capital, £8.4 million for the Primary Capital programme, £9.9 million for Modernisation, £4.1 million for Basic Need expansion, with other allocations for Extended Schools, Schools Access Initiative, Targeted Capital Funding and ICT, and £8.1 million equivalent funding for Voluntary Aided schools. In addition, Dorset has a One School Pathfinder project in progress for which £31.3 million has been allocated, with further allocations for kitchens and maintained boarding schools.
	Apart from Devolved Formula Capital and the Primary Capital programme, it is for the local authority to decide what will be allocated to  (a) secondary schools and  (b) proposed primary schools. This can also include other resources raised locally.
	The Department does not receive information from local authorities of local asset management plans, including the split of expenditure between primary and secondary schools.

Special Educational Needs: Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care attended maintained special educational needs schools in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information on children in care is usually sourced from the Looked After Children database but this cannot be used to answer this question as it does not identify the school each child attends. However, data on pupils in care are also collected via the school census and the available information is shown in the table. Pupil in care data are not available prior to 2004.
	This census shows that there were 34,390 pupils aged five to 19 attending primary, secondary and special schools classed as being in care as at January 2008. Data published by the Department as SFR 23/2008: Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008, shows 47,600 children aged between five and 19 as being looked after as at 31 March 2008. However the school census does not cover all looked after children; information is not collected for pupils in alternative provision, including pupil referral units, FE colleges, voluntary provision and those not in education or training. These differences in coverage will explain the different counts to an extent, but it is possible that the school census undercounts the number of looked after children in primary, secondary and special schools.
	
		
			  Maintained Special Schools( 1) : Number of pupils in  care2 — Position  in January each year 2004 to 2008, England 
			   Number 
			 2004 4,170 
			 2005 3,900 
			 2006 4,040 
			 2007 4,440 
			 2008 4,530 
			 (1) Excludes general hospital schools. (2) Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census

Special Educational Needs: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in  (a) special schools and  (b) independent schools in each decile of income deprivation affecting children indices had statements of special educational needs in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2008.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect address information for pupils attending independent schools therefore it is not possible to provide residency based information for pupils attending independent schools.
	The available information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pupils attending special schools( 1 ) with a statement of special educational needs by IDACI decile( 2)  of pupil residence 
			  IDACI decile of pupil residence  Special schools 
			   2003  2008 
			 0-10% most deprived areas 16,559 14,965 
			 10-20% 14,212 13,166 
			 20-30% 11,691 11,046 
			 30-40% 9,743 9,322 
			 40-50% 8,173 8,067 
			 50-60% 6,726 6,803 
			 60-70% 6,274 6,430 
			 70-80% 5,589 5,758 
			 80-90% 5,261 5,448 
			 90-100% least deprived areas 4,829 5,075 
			 (1) Includes solely registered pupils attending foundation special schools, community special schools and non-maintained special schools. (2) Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index 2007 at Super Output Area level.  Source: School Census.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was allocated to primary schools in  (a) West Chelmsford constituency,  (b) the Chelmsford local authority area and  (c) England for children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties in 2008-09; and how much funding was allocated for special education schools operating in (i) West Chelmsford constituency, (ii) the Chelmsford local authority area and (iii) England in 2008-09.

Jim Knight: Funding data specifically for children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties are not collected by the Department. However, according to the available information, Essex local authority's 2008-09 budget statement reports that maintained special schools planned expenditure in West Chelmsford was £3.4 million and maintained primary schools received an indicative special educational needs allocation of £2.2 million.
	The following table provides the planned net expenditure on the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs in Essex local authority and England for 2008-09:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Essex LA  England 
			 ISB for special schools (Table 1) 28,406,000 1,505,416,000 
			 Funding delegated to nursery schools identified as "notional SEN" 15,000 11,660,000 
			 Funding delegated to primary schools identified as "notional SEN" 32,756,000 1,152,319,000 
			 Funding delegated to secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" 27,572,000 879,151,000 
			 Total SEN funding delegated to schools 88,748,000 3,548,546,000 
			
			 Centrally retained SEN element of the school budget 31,921,000 1,185,141,000 
			 SEN element of the LA budget 5,332,000 365,229,000 
			
			 Total planned expenditure on the education of children with SEN 126,001,000 5,098,916,000 
			  Notes: 1. Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools. 2. The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against "notional SEN" are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN. During 2008-09 local authorities in England also budgeted £552.6 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table (Essex LA budgeted £13.3 million for SEN transport expenditure). 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding. 4. The data are drawn from local authorities Children, Schools and Families Financial Data Collection (Budget) submitted to the DCSF. 5. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 5 March 2009.

Special Educational Needs: Private Sector

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2116-7W, on special educational needs: private sector, how many of the schools referred to in each year were located in each local authority area.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Teachers: Pay

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1711W, on teachers' pay, if he will  (a) publish the findings of the Local Government Employers' survey of local authorities on the number of teachers who have lost pay as a result of the ending of safeguarding for management allowances; and  (b) estimate the amount removed from the overall teachers' pay bill as a result of the ending of the safeguarding.

Jim Knight: We do not hold such results centrally as the Local Government Employers contacted a sample of local authorities to estimate the number of teachers who would be affected by the ending of safeguarding payments for management allowances. Our previous reply reported that the sample survey indicated that between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent. of teachers may have been affected by the ending of the safeguarding period.
	We do not collect data on the amount that will be removed from the overall teachers' pay bill as a result of the ending of this safeguarding. Schools have been planning for this since the withdrawal of management allowances on 31 December 2005 and the subsequent introduction of Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments with the requirement to review the school's staffing structure. It is for schools to determine how best to utilise any savings made as a result of the expiry of the safeguarding period. Local authorities have already set indicative school budgets for 2009-10 and 2010-11 in addition to budgets for 2008-09.

Teachers: Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average A level grades required for admission to a Bachelor of Education course were in the latest year for which information is available; what the lowest A level grades required for admission to such a course are; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The A level requirements which universities and colleges are asking for entry to Bachelor of Education courses for 2009 entry are as follows:
	Minimum requirement: 160 UCAS tariff points which is equivalent of A level grades DDE.
	Average requirement: 230 UCAS tariff points. 240 points equals A level grades CCC, and 220 points equals grades CCD.
	 Source: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Young People: Mental Health Services

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average waiting time for help from children and adolescent mental health support services was in each local authority area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The report of the independent review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), "Children and Young people in Mind", stated that there had been a 14 per cent. fall between 2005 and 2007 in the number of children and young people waiting to be seen by CAMHS, with shorter waiting times. Information is not collected, however, in the form requested. The annual CAMHS and Maternity Services mapping exercise conducted by Durham university for the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health provides information on waiting times for CAMHS by strategic health authority and NHS provider. This information is available at the Child Health, CAMHS and Maternity Mapping website at:
	www.childhealthmapping.org.uk.

Youth Clubs

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has  (a) spent and  (b) allocated to spend on youth centres during the financial years (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Beverley Hughes: In addition to that spent by local authorities from within their own budgets, the DCSF has committed £240 million in 2008-09 to 62 world class 'myplace' youth facilities across England with a further £32 million to be committed through 'myplace' in 2009-11. The Department has also committed £22.6 million in 2008-09 through the Youth Capital Fund Plus to deliver over 100 improved youth facilities in neighbourhoods with high rates of antisocial behaviour and crime in the 50 most deprived local authorities. £26.5 million capital investment per annum is also being made in both 2008-09 and in 2009-10 through the Youth Capital Fund to support the provision of positive activities in all areas of the country.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bye Laws

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to publish the Government's formal response to the consultation in respect of the enforcement of local government byelaws.

John Healey: The Department intends to publish the Government's response to the consultation on the making and enforcement of byelaws by the end of March.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 71-2WS, on local authority rents, what requirements local authorities must meet to be eligible for additional funding from central Government.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government wrote to local authorities on 11 March with further information following my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning's announcement of 6 March that we would be halving the 2009-10 national average guideline rent increase from 6.2 per cent. to 3.1 per cent. in recognition of the current difficult economic conditions. We are prepared to change the subsidy position of those authorities who reduce their actual average increase in rents in 2009-10 in line with the new national average.
	Details of the arrangements are set out in our letter, and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

Council Tax: Second Homes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties were registered as second homes for council tax purposes in each county in each year since the introduction of council tax; and what the year-on-year percentage change was in each case.

John Healey: For details of the number of properties registered as second homes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. Wright) on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 543-4W.
	Details of the corresponding year-on-year percentage changes are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage change in the number of second homes in each county in England 
			   Percentage change 
			   November 2004 to October 2005  October 2005 to  October 2006  October 2006 to  October 2007  October 2007 to  October 2008 
			 Bedfordshire 14.3 54.1 -11.3 1.7 
			 Buckinghamshire -4.9 1.7 1.9 6.3 
			 Cambridgeshire 3.6 -7.5 -1.4 1.0 
			 Cheshire 13.7 20.6 19.8 2.0 
			 Cornwall -2.1 -1.4 1.2 3.0 
			 Cumbria 0.5 5.9 -3.4 1.4 
			 Derbyshire -1.8 2.0 -3.4 9.4 
			 Devon -1.4 -3.9 -2.7 -0.2 
			 Dorset 3.4 -0.7 -1.3 2.9 
			 Durham 22.7 -23.0 15.0 -1.0 
			 East Sussex -1.6 -2.7 -1.8 -0.4 
			 Essex -3.4 7.2 0.8 -3.5 
			 Gloucestershire -2.4 -0.3 3.1 2.1 
			 Hampshire 6.8 -3.8 0.1 3.3 
			 Hertfordshire 17.4 -2.4 3.1 4.1 
			 Kent -7.2 -3.1 -3.3 32.5 
			 Lancashire 10.7 -7.7 -2.3 0.1 
			 Leicestershire 22.6 24.5 -5.3 -7.6 
			 Lincolnshire 5.5 -4.9 -10.3 -0.8 
			 Norfolk 3.6 -0.7 -0.8 2.1 
			 North Yorkshire 5.0 0.5 0.0 4.7 
			 Northamptonshire -9.1 -0.3 -2.5 1.3 
			 Northumberland 1.4 -0.2 -1.1 4.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 29.7 7.1 1.3 6.1 
			 Oxfordshire -0.9 2.3 8.9 -5.4 
			 Shropshire 3.3 -1.4 -2.8 1.1 
			 Somerset -1.1 -1.6 -3.6 1.3 
			 Staffordshire 6.3 -1.4 -0.4 1.9 
			 Suffolk -0.5 -1.4 0.9 1.3 
			 Surrey 15.7 -11.4 -5.5 4.4 
			 Warwickshire 1.6 75.2 5.7 -0.8 
			 West Sussex 8.9 -0.4 -2.0 1.4 
			 Wiltshire 8.1 10.9 -1.7 -1.0 
			 Worcestershire -5.9 -1.5 -0.7 4.6 
			  Source: CTB forms submitted annually by local authorities

Departmental Absenteeism

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of her Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate she has made of the (i) cost to her Department and (ii) number of working hours lost due to such absence; and what guidance her Department issued to staff in respect of absence on these days.

Sadiq Khan: The Department does not record non-medical absences centrally and compilation of this information from local sources (i.e. individual business units) would incur a disproportionate cost. Staff were told via the emergency incident line and internet to contact their line manager to discuss working from home if they could not get safely to and from the office.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with which banks her Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Sadiq Khan: The Department has not held any contracts for the provision of financial advice during the financial year 2008-09 from any bank.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: We have no staff who were disciplined or had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Eco-Towns

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 769W, on eco-towns, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Cragg Ross Dawson research on local attitudes to the proposals for eco-towns.

Margaret Beckett: I am placing a copy of the Cragg Ross Dawson research in the House Library. This was qualitative research undertaken last July to explore national and local attitudes to the proposals for eco-towns, and to help inform our communications strategy at that time.

Empty Housing: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there were in each local authority area in Yorkshire and the Humber at the latest date for which figures are available; how many of these homes had been empty on a long-term basis; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Initiatives to bring empty homes back into use are, rightly, channelled through local authorities who are best placed to assess what measures are appropriate to their local circumstances. In the first instance, we encourage local authorities to work with owners to persuade them of the benefits of bringing their property back into use.
	However, where it is clear that owners are not prepared to co-operate with efforts to get their property occupied through agreement, we have provided enforcement powers to deal with them. Key powers are compulsory purchase and enforced sale which were added to by the Housing Act 2004 which introduced a new power for local authorities to make Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) in respect of long-term empty homes. An EDMO allows a local authority to take over the management of an unoccupied dwelling in certain circumstances.
	We are keen for local authorities to make use of EDMOs, where appropriate, and are supporting the independent Empty Homes Agency's new guidance on EDMOs, which was launched on 10 March. The guidance is internet based and interactive and takes local authorities through the EDMO process step by step. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning provided a foreword for the guidance.
	Later this month we are also hosting a seminar at which I will address local authorities encouraging them to take action and to share best practice on tackling empty homes, including the use of EDMOs.
	In addition, local authorities and other public sector bodies must do more to resolve the problems within their own housing stock, but this does not mean they should be prevented from pursuing reoccupation of privately owned dwellings.
	The following table sets out the latest position on vacant stock within the region in question.
	
		
			  Vacant dwellings in Yorkshire and Humber: As at 1 April 2008 
			   Local authority (LA) stock  Registered social landlord (RSL) stock  Private sector (PS) stock  Total vacant stock  Of wh ich:  PS dwellings vacant more than six months 
			 Barnsley 427 84 3,483 4,006 1,410 
			 Bradford 0 1,087 8,354 9,441 4,986 
			 Calderdale 0 1,029 4,273 5,392 1,835 
			 Craven 2 30 882 915 276 
			 Doncaster 300 33 4,805 5,138 2,835 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA 109 29 4,940 5,086 2.200 
			 Hambleton 0 62 1,672 1,734 506 
			 Harrogate 26 14 2,374 2,430 1,080 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of UA 1,307 109 7,224 8,640 2,795 
			 Kirklees 333 39 6,413 6,785 4,937 
			 Leeds 1,979 281 15,297 17,557 6,851 
			 North East Lincolnshire UA 0 473 2,457 2,930 1,068 
			 North Lincolnshire UA 0 192 1,803 2,023 863 
			 Richmondshire 42 2 360 505 291 
			 Rotherham 348 29 1,882 2,405 1,208 
			 Ryedale 0 20 845 871 319 
			 Scarborough 0 84 1,974 2,058 940 
			 Selby 26 11 1,333 1,370 446 
			 Sheffield 933 538 4,258 5,733 2,816 
			 Wakefield 0 507 5,205 5,712 3,151 
			 York UA 90 48 1,511 1,678 486 
			 Yorkshire and Humber total 5,922 4,701 81,345 92,409 (1)41,299 
			 (1) Includes 303 dwellings earmarked for demolition or re-development linked to regeneration or other housing schemes.  Note: Information on long term (six months plus) empty stock in the social housing sector is not available.  Source: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) 2008

Homelessness: Crosby

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1284-85W, on homelessness, what definition of the term vulnerable households she uses; and what estimate she has made of the number of vulnerable households in Crosby constituency which will receive assistance under the Mortgage Reserve Scheme.

Margaret Beckett: The Government Mortgage Rescue aims to support up to 6,000 'vulnerable' households in England at risk of repossession over the next two years. Under the scheme's criteria, a 'vulnerable' household is termed as one that falls within one of three priority need categories and who would be owed a duty to secure accommodation under the homelessness legislation (section 189(1)(a)-(c) of the Housing Act 1996) if they became homeless through no fault of their own.
	The three priority need categories are that the home owner must be:
	(1) a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;
	(2) a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside; or
	(3) a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside.
	The £200 million Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been operational across the country since 1 January 2009. The Government have not made any estimate of the number of households it expects to benefit from the scheme by individual parliamentary constituency. The scheme is demand-led, with the number of vulnerable households benefiting from the scheme dependant on the number of eligible households approaching their local authority for assistance.

Homelessness: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1284-5W, on homelessness, how much of the proposed £200 million spending to prevent homelessness is to be allocated to Sefton; and on what projects the funding will be used.

Iain Wright: Sefton will receive £62,000 a year homelessness grant (revenue); a total of £186,000 over the period 2008-11. This money is not ring-fenced therefore it is for local authorities to decide how to use their homelessness grant to effectively deliver their strategies.
	Sefton borough council were also awarded £1,080,000 capital funding from the Places of Change programme in March 2008 towards the refurbishment of the BOSCO Society hostel in Bootle.
	The project provides 13 hostel bed spaces for single homeless men, many of whom have an offender background, suffer from the effects of years of rough sleeping, substance misuse and poor mental health. The building in which the service is currently based is dilapidated and not fit for purpose. The Places of Change programme grant will enable "BOSCO" to transform a poor physical environment into an attractive, welcoming living space, and also to improve established training facilities and opportunities for social enterprise for residents.

Housing: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to simplify the mechanism for the allocation of housing and planning delivery grants in light of the downturn in the housing sector.

Iain Wright: The Government set out their proposals for the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) in the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant: Allocation Mechanism and Summary of Consultation Responses document which was published in July 2008. This document confirmed the final allocation mechanism and also set out that the Government will closely monitor both the housing market and the impact of HPDG and consider any necessary changes in light of emerging evidence.
	We are currently considering the allocation mechanism to ensure that local authorities are incentivised to respond to current market conditions and are well placed to respond effectively to the market upturn. We will undertake public consultation on any proposed changes which we will issue during the spring.

Housing: Low Incomes

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has allocated for affordable housing in Hemel Hempstead in the next three years.

Iain Wright: Dacorum/Hemel Hempstead falls within the London Commuter Belt Housing Sub Region. The indicative resource level for the sub region for the period 2008-11 was £179.9 million.
	The current new resource to Dacorum for 2008-11 comprises:
	£645,000 to fund 13 new homes in Hemel Hempstead;
	£630,000 to fund a minimum of 13 homes under the HOLD Programme (Home Ownership for People with Learning Disabilities). This resource is for Dacorum as a whole and not specific to Hemel Hempstead.
	The Homes and Communities Agency now operates a system of Continuous Market Engagement meaning that bids for new funding can be submitted at any point in the year.

Housing: Research

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for her Department's research to identify the housing options for households at risk of domestic violence; whom she has consulted during the research; and who is carrying it out.

Iain Wright: This research consists of three studies examining different aspects of current accommodation and support provision for households at risk of domestic violence. All three studies are due to be completed by the end of December 2009.
	The first study is examining what housing assistance is available for adults without dependant children who are at risk of domestic violence. This will include consideration of the responses of local authority housing departments. The work is being carried out by the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, University of Cambridge. The second study, identifying the current provision of accommodation and housing related support, is being carried out by the Centre for Housing Policy, University of York. The third study, which will identify good practice in the provision of schemes to enable households at risk of domestic violence to remain safely in their own homes, is also being carried out by the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York.
	A number of stakeholders and experts have agreed to act as a Reference Group for all three studies. This group includes Women's Aid, Refuge, Imkaan, Respect, the Greater London Domestic Violence Project, the Association of Chief Police Officers, and the Home Office. The Reference Group are consulted at key stages of each project, and several members have been interviewed by each of the research teams.
	In addition there will be interviews and focus groups with people who have experienced domestic violence and with representatives of local authorities and service providers, whose identities will not be disclosed, in line with normal practice on confidentiality of research interviews.

Local Government Finance: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1298-1300W, how much funding Sefton Council has received for  (a) capital investment in housing,  (b) major repairs allowance and  (c) disabled facilities grants in each year since 1995.

Iain Wright: Allocations to Sefton council of capital funding for housing purposes over the period 1995-96 to 2009-10 exceeds £123 million.
	The following table shows the funding Sefton have received for capital investment in housing, major repairs allowance and disabled facilities grants in each year.
	
		
			  Allocations 
			  £000 
			   (a) Housing capital allocations (excluding MRA and DFG)  (b )Major repairs allowance (MRA)  (c) Disabled facilities grant (DFG)  (a, b, c) Total 
			 1995-96 5,610 — — 5,610 
			 1996-97 5,192 — — 5,192 
			 1997-98 4,244 — 264 4,508 
			 1998-99 5,928 — 291 6,219 
			 1999-2000 5,617 — 291 5,908 
			 2000-01 9,011 — 323 9,334 
			 2001-02 4,480 7,456 380 12,316 
			 2002-03 5,148 7,370 713 13,231 
			 2003-04 4,852 7,165 720 12,737 
			 2004-05 5,533 7,274 791 13,598 
			 2005-06 5,533 7,253 791 13,577 
			 2006-07 6,132 — 918 7,050 
			 2007-08 6,033 — 964 6,997 
			 2008-09 4,985 — 964 5,949 
			 2009-10 — — 1,157 1,157 
			 123,383 
		
	
	Payments of major repairs allowance ceased in 2006, following the transfer of housing stock to a new registered social landlord.

Local Government: Electronic Government

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have failed to meet the deadline to put in place a code of connection to facilitate access to the Government Connect service; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The initial deadline is 31 March 2009 and the final deadline is 30 September 2009 for local authorities to achieve compliance with the Government Connect Code of Connection. It is, therefore, not yet possible to state how many local authorities have complied.
	Government Connect applies to 410 local authorities in England and Wales. Of these, 106 were granted up to six-month exemption to the initial deadline shortly after its announcement in July 2008. Of the remaining 304 targeted for 31 March 2009, the majority have either achieved compliance or are believed to be on track.
	Achieving compliance with the Government Connect Code of Connection is a local authority responsibility and, therefore, the Department cannot state with certainty when compliance will be achieved.
	Based on progress to date, the Department estimates that of the 304 targeted for March 2009, 53 will be late by less than one month and a further 43 will be late by two to three months.
	Providing those late authorities demonstrate commitment to achieving Code of Connection compliance, the Department anticipates providing continued support and granting short-term exemptions to the deadline.
	The current connectivity status can be found on the Government Connect website at:
	http://www.govconnect.gov.uk/implementation/update.php

London Pensions Fund Authority

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated size of the London Pension Fund Authority's pensioners sub-fund deficit is; and what proportion of that deficit is attributable to pension commitments in relation to former employees of the  (a) Greater London Council and  (b) Inner London Education Authority.

Sadiq Khan: The 31 March 2007 actuarial valuation of the London Pensions Funds Authority shows that the total deficit attributable to the former employees of the Greater London Council, the Inner London Education Authority, the London Residuary Body and others amounted to £210 million. Further details to breakdown this figure can be obtained from the authority.

Multiple Occupation: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effect of former seaside guest houses and hotels which are now operated as houses of multiple occupation on the prospects for businesses in those towns.

Iain Wright: No analysis has been made of the impact on businesses in seaside towns of guest houses and hotels changing into houses of multiple occupation. We would envisage that such local authorities would consider the effects as part of the local strategies that they develop with their local partnerships.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of domestic properties had their tax registration changed to business property in each county in each of the last 12 months.

John Healey: The number of domestic properties that were reclassified as business properties in each county in each of the last 12 months is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of domestic properties transferred to the non-domestic ratings list 
			   2008  2009 
			  County  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December  January  February 
			 Bedfordshire 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 
			 Buckinghamshire 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 3 2 3 9 1 3 2 3 1 1 1 
			 Cheshire 0 0 3 10 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 0 
			 Cornwall 21 33 56 38 41 32 19 17 9 6 6 15 
			 Cumbria 18 31 26 27 20 20 17 14 20 13 10 14 
			 Derbyshire 4 4 10 4 12 2 11 6 5 4 5 2 
			 Devon 37 35 28 70 30 23 35 56 26 24 25 25 
			 Dorset 11 16 12 28 11 14 8 11 6 4 9 1 
			 Durham 1 0 2 1 1 2 1 1 4 1 3 0 
			 East Sussex 2 5 27 3 4 3 3 3 0 1 2 2 
			 Essex 0 2 1 1 3 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 
			 Gloucestershire 3 2 3 2 3 0 3 5 1 1 7 2 
			 Hampshire 2 6 3 5 5 12 8 2 4 5 2 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 1 3 3 2 3 1 0 2 3 0 0 
			 Kent 8 10 6 8 7 5 6 3 3 1 6 5 
			 Lancashire 5 2 6 8 6 4 3 2 4 1 2 4 
			 Leicestershire 2 2 0 1 1 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 
			 Lincolnshire 13 12 13 17 16 9 9 7 5 8 3 6 
			 Norfolk 19 41 28 36 36 22 17 28 20 33 23 16 
			 North Yorkshire 22 6 6 8 14 4 17 26 24 17 18 17 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 3 1 4 0 0 1 0 1 — 0 
			 Northumberland 11 18 19 12 19 10 8 17 2 7 — 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 2 0 4 3 1 3 0 1 2 — 1 
			 Oxfordshire 2 1 2 1 3 3 3 4 3 2 — 1 
			 Shropshire 5 1 7 5 1 3 0 1 3 1 — 0 
			 Somerset 4 10 11 9 10 4 3 1 5 2 3 9 
			 Staffordshire 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 0 0 4 4 1 
			 Suffolk 7 15 9 11 12 9 10 15 16 6 16 4 
			 Surrey 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 
			 Warwickshire 1 4 2 8 1 0 2 3 3 3 3 5 
			 West Sussex 1 6 4 4 6 1 2 4 3 2 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 
			 Worcestershire 3 5 2 6 9 0 0 1 2 1 2 0 
			 Total 209 279 298 340 296 195 198 237 185 160 161 150 
		
	
	Data on the proportion of domestic properties these figures represent have not been included as the figures are too small to be significant.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what revenue she estimates will accrue from the increase of 4.9 per cent. in the uniform business rate in 2009-10.

John Healey: For England, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1081W, to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).
	Business rates in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Planning Permission: Beverley

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to make a decision on the planning application for the Flemingate development proposal in Beverley; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The target date for the decision on this case is 1 May 2009. However, if the Secretary of State is able to issue the decision any earlier than this, she will do so.

Regional Planning and Development: South West

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress has been made in assessing the responses to the consultation on the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; and if she will publish her revised timetable for the Government's response to the consultation.

Iain Wright: holding answer 13 March 2009
	 Significant progress is being made in assessing the 35,000 representations to the south west regional spatial strategy.
	The Secretary of State will publish a revised timetable shortly.

Sleeping Rough: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1284-85W, on homelessness, how many rough sleepers there were in Sefton in each year since 2001. [R]

Iain Wright: Annual rough sleeping figures are based on local authority street counts and estimates where a street count did not take place.
	
		
			   Number of rough sleepers in Sefton 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 1 
			 2007 0 
			 2008 0

Social Rented Housing: EC Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rights to social housing are granted to nationals from other EU countries in accordance with EU legislation.

Margaret Beckett: EU nationals are eligible in principle for an allocation of local authority housing in England where they: are exercising an EU treaty right to reside as a worker or as a self-employed person; are an accession state national registered on the worker registration or worker authorisation scheme; have a right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom; or, subject to also being habitually resident, are exercising an EU treaty right to reside as a student or self-sufficient person.
	Although the above EU nationals are in principle eligible for an allocation of housing, to receive an allocation they must have sufficient priority under a local authority's allocation scheme.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 947-48W, on Travelling people: caravan sites, what the level and structure of the appropriate fee that should be charged for rubbish collections is; and what guidance her Department issues to local authorities in the event of Travellers refusing to pay.

Iain Wright: Section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides the appropriate power to enable local authorities to seek payment of a reasonable charge for the collection of waste from an unauthorised site. The issue of whether a fee should be charged for the collection of such waste, and the level of that fee, is a matter for the relevant local authority to consider in the light of the circumstances that apply in each individual case. Local authorities have strong powers under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, to deal with any incidences of fly-tipping that might arise if the council cannot come to an agreement with the occupiers of the site about the level of fee.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions for procuring an illegal abortion have taken place in each year since 2003.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Information showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (as amended by the Abortion Act 1967) in England and Wales 2003 to 2007 are in the table. The Criminal Statistics data for 2008 are due to be published in November 2009.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences relating to procuring illegal abortion, England and Wales, 2003 - 07( 1, 2) 
			  Offence( 3)  2003  2004  2005   2006  2007 
			 Administering or using drugs or using instruments to procure abortion 3 2 — — 1 
			 Procuring drugs etc to cause abortion — — 1 — — 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) These offences fall under the following statute: Offences against the Person Act 1861 as amended by the Abortion Act 1967  Source:  Evidence and Analysis Unit - Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Allergies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tertiary allergy services are being provided in each strategic health authority in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department does not routinely collect these data.
	In 2007, the Department published a review of allergy services, which identified that there were approximately 94 allergy clinics in England, of which six were services led by full-time specialist allergists. Three of these clinics were in London Strategic Health Authority and one each in East of England Strategic Health Authority; South Central Strategic Health Authority and one in East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.
	The North West Strategic Health Authority has been appointed as the lead for allergy. They are developing a network, of provision centred around the major population centres of the region through building additional capacity and capability in existing providers of tertiary allergy services.
	This work has started with steps to appoint a full time (adult) consultant allergist. Subject to agreement of North West primary care trusts, this will be followed in 2009-10 by the recruitment of (paediatric) consultant allergist. Plans then exist for the development of additional capacity and capability in other centres across the region and also in primary care.
	The learning from this pilot site will form the basis of a model to be shared with other regions of England to encourage the development of locally appropriate provision in those areas.

Allergies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to increase the level of provision of immunotherapy services through specialist allergy centres for people with severe uncontrolled allergic rhinitis; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress he is making in increasing the number of regional specialist allergy centres in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department has appointed NHS North West to lead improvements in allergy services. This work is being taken forward by the North West Specialised Commissioning Team (NWSCT), acting on behalf of the strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region.
	Working with key stakeholders, including patient groups and clinicians, the NWSCT has developed an implementation plan for the delivery of network based, integrated allergy services for children and adults across the region. A project manager has been appointed to take this plan forward, commencing with the appointment of an additional, full-time (adult) consultant allergist at University hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.
	The learning from this pilot site will form the basis of a model to be shared with other regions of England to encourage the development of locally appropriate provision in those areas.
	Specialist allergy centres will be required to treat patients with a range of conditions, including severe uncontrolled allergic rhinitis, with a range of treatments. Such treatments may include, if clinically appropriate and evidenced, immunotherapy.

Allergies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been admitted to hospital as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The following table provides data from the NHS Information Centre on finished admission episodes in 1997-98 to 2007-08 where the primary diagnosis is specific to food allergies.
	
		
			  Count of admissions to hospital where the primary diagnosis is specific to food allergies in 1997-98 to 2007-08, activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			   Finished admission episodes 
			 2007-08 3,728 
			 2006-07 3,538 
			 2005-06 3,078 
			 2004-05 2,594 
			 2003-04 2,390 
			 2002-03 2,168 
			 2001-02 2,072 
			 2000-01 2,079 
			 1999-2000 2,046 
			 1998-99 1,688 
			 1997-98 1,646

Allergies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost to the NHS of treating an individual for food allergies was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold data on the cost of treating an individual for food allergies.
	A review of allergy services, published in June 2006, estimated the cost to the national health service of managing all allergic disease to be in the region of £1 billion per annum in the United Kingdom.

Blood Transfusions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients are not infected by blood transfusions.

Phil Hope: The quality and safety of human blood and blood components are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency under the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 (as amended). The Regulations transpose into UK law European Blood Directives 2002/98/EC, 2004/33/EC, 2005/61/EC and 2005/62/EC, which set standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components.
	There are strict selection criteria for anyone wishing to give blood, and mandatory testing of all blood components for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Depending on the donor's responses to questions regarding their travel history, tests may also be carried out for malaria, Trypanosoma cruzi, and West Nile Virus. Tests for Cytomegalovirus are also carried out on a number of donations to meet clinical needs. Risk management measures to protect the blood supply are kept under regular review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs.
	As yet, there is no available blood test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). However, there are a number of measures in place to reduce the risk of vCJD transmission via blood transfusion. A copy of these will be placed in the Library.
	There are additional measures in place for the reduction of risk of donor skin contamination of blood during donation, such as diversion of the first portion of blood into a sample pouch rather than the main pack, and enhanced arm cleansing prior to venepuncture. Both measures significantly reduce risk of contamination.
	No blood donation is 100 per cent. safe, and therefore blood should be used only when clinically appropriate. Significant action has been taken to promote appropriate use of blood and tissues and alternatives throughout the national health service, such as the Better Blood Transfusion programme, see "Health Service Circular 2007/001", a copy of which has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersand circulars/Healthservicecirculars/DH_080613
	National support and advice on the most appropriate use of blood is provided by the Chief Medical Officer's National Blood Transfusion Committee.

Bone Marrow Disorders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for bone marrow transplants in  (a) England,  (b) the North East and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Dementia

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 111W, on dementia, who the members of the new National Dementia Strategy Programme Board are; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The terms of reference and membership of the new National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme Board have yet to be finalised. They will be considered at the final meeting of the old Dementia Strategy Programme Board, now to be held on 31 March. They will then be determined by Ministers before the information is placed on the dementia page of the Department's website.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not purchase directly any cleaning products. Our cleaning contractor Resource has advised that its suppliers do have policies and a copy of these will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has formally disciplined fewer than five individuals in the last 12 months as a result of a poor sickness record, and dismissed fewer than five individuals in the last 12 months for that reason.
	Because of the small numbers involved, it is the Department's practice not to provide the specific information requested on the grounds of confidentiality.
	Similarly, there are a small number of cases which are currently at an informal stage of the disciplinary process.

Departmental Public Relations

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's expenditure on contracts with public relations consultancies was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Public relations companies are employed to support a very wide range of marketing and policy initiatives. This includes major public health behaviour change programmes (such as tobacco control, sexual health, flu immunisation, obesity prevention, hand and respiratory hygiene and drug and alcohol harm reduction programmes) in addition to communicating to the national health service workforce and supporting clinical campaigns. The following table also includes NHS Connecting for Health expenditure.
	
		
			  Department of Health Expenditure on public relations consultancies 2004-09 
			  £ 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			  Direct expenditure from the Department  
			 Including VAT 3,871,749 5,969,908 5,895,377 7,565,228 5,169,111 
			 Excluding VAT 3,295,106 5,080,773 5,017,342 6,438,491 4,419,825 
			 Expenditure through Central Office of Information  
			 Excluding VAT 3,060.00 71,755.87 65,580.04 25,582.35 1,451,464.29 
			 (1) Spend to date 
		
	
	The work commissioned through public relations companies includes a wide range of marketing activity including: advertorials, newsletter production, conference and event management, research, creation of content and photography and stakeholder relations activity.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 137-38W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the most recent staff survey undertaken by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: A copy of the document requested has been placed in the Library. This and the results of other staff surveys in the Department are now available and will, in future, be available on the staff survey page of the general civil service website.

Health Professions: English Language

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts on English-speaking requirements for clinical staff.

Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that the clinical staff they employ are able to safely and effectively communicate with colleagues and patients. NHS employers have issued guidance on their website about international recruitment and language competence.

Heart Diseases: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many men under the age of 35 years resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire had heart attacks in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available in the format requested. The available information is held by primary care trust (PCT) area. However, the Department is unable to provide the data for West Hertfordshire PCT as it is Hospital Episode Statistics' protocol to suppress the results of data collection where the total is less than six individuals for reasons of patient confidentiality.
	However, the following table provides data from the East of England Strategic Authority (SHA) (which includes Hemel Hempstead and Hertfordshire). It shows the number of males under the age of 35 years old who were admitted to hospital due to a heart attack:
	
		
			  Finished admission episodes 
			   East of England SHA 
			 2007-08 47 
			 2006-07 40 
			 2005-06 48 
			 2004-05 43 
			 2003-04 37 
			  Notes: 1. The East of England SHA was formed in 2006-07 by a merger of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire; Essex; and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Figures for 2003-04 to 2005-06 are therefore the combined figures of these three SHAs. 2. Finished admission episodes: a finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 3. Primary diagnosis: the primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 4. The ICD-10 codes used to identify heart attacks are as follows; I21—Acute myocardial infarction and I22—Subsequent myocardial infarction. 5. Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary diagnosis: these figures represent the number of episodes where the diagnosis was recorded in the primary diagnosis field in a HES record. 6. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 national health service trusts and PCTs in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the NHS in England. The NHS Information centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

HIV Infection

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes his Department is funding to encourage people with HIV to be advocates for HIV prevention.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department funds both the Terrence Higgins Trust and the African HIV Policy Network to deliver targeted work with the groups most affected by HIV, gay men and people from African communities, respectively. Both organisations will develop initiatives on positive prevention in 2009-10. National advocacy will be developed through the national programmes in partnership with other voluntary organisations consulting with key stakeholders in the community.

HIV Infection

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who attended a genito-urinary medicine clinic received an HIV test when they attended the clinic in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Data on HIV are only available on the number of tests performed not on the number of patients tested. Data on the number of HIV tests performed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England between 2003 and 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Male 207,114 250,857 294,957 332,230 386,519 
			 Female 193,052 232,356 281,215 317,372 382,529 
			 Total 400,166 483,213 576,172 649,602 769,048 
			  Notes:  1. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for diagnoses and services provided in GUM clinics only. Diagnoses and services provided in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset.  2. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data.  3. Data are unavailable for 2008.   Source:  Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns.

Memory Clinics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set a deadline for primary care trusts to take decisions on the  (a) nature,  (b) number and  (c) funding of memory services.

Phil Hope: The decisions about local implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, including decisions on the development of memory services, will be a matter for individual primary care trusts and local authorities.

Mental Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assertive outreach teams there were in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The information is not held centrally in the format requested.
	However, the total number of assertive outreach (AO) teams in the East of England strategic health authority (SHA) and for Hertfordshire Partnerships NHS Trust from March 2007 to present is provided in the following table. Earlier data is no longer accessible.
	
		
			  Mental health services: Assertive outreach teams in East of England SHA and in Hertfordshire Partnerships NHS Trust from the year 2007 to present 
			  Year ending  March each year  East of England SHA  Hertfordshire Partnerships NHS Trust 
			 2007 24 5 
			 2008 23 5 
			  Note:  The Department no longer has an agreement with Durham University who provided the Department with data on the number of AOs prior to March 2007 and the database is no longer accessible.   Source:  Mental Health Strategies.

Mental Health Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1768W, on mental health services, 
	(1)  which professions deliver cognitive behavioural therapy;
	(2)  how his Department defines the term state of the art training in relation to cognitive behavioural therapy;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to assess the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Phil Hope: Clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, nurse therapists, primary care counsellors and other qualified mental health professionals are eligible to train in delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for depression and anxiety disorders, high intensity therapy, as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. Those without a core professional background are required to complete a knowledge, skills and attitudes portfolio to be eligible for training.
	All those currently delivering CBT are required to be accredited by the BABCP (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), the United Kingdom's leading organisation for CBT.
	People from a wide range of backgrounds with a special interest in therapeutic approaches are eligible to train in delivering low intensity interventions.
	IAPT programme training courses can be described as "state of the art" courses principally because they are based on the CBT competency framework, which was a piece of empirical science.
	In addition, these training courses focus on clinical skills development for low and high intensity therapists; they have national curricula developed through expert and lay consultation; they are supported by clear national learning materials, and techniques developed in clinical trials are taught by experts in the relevant therapeutic discipline.
	All the educational institutions delivering these courses around the country are subject to an accreditation regime that provides quality assurance.
	The IAPT programme has one principal aim—to help primary care trusts (PCTs) implement the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and/or anxiety disorders.
	CBT is an evidence-based intervention and is recommended by NICE for the treatment of depression and/or anxiety disorders. However, all IAPT services are required to collect routine clinical outcomes at every session so that clinical teams can evaluate the effectiveness of the service and so patients can see and discuss their progress with their therapist. The data also enable PCTs and practice based commissioners to commission psychological therapy services for the outcomes they are expected to achieve.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his announcement of 8 March 2009 on mental health and unemployment, from which budget the £13 million he has allocated will be taken; by what mechanism it will be allocated to local NHS services; and how it will be broken down between the different measures he has announced.

Phil Hope: This additional funding is for a package of measures to help the national health service support people with emotional distress or common mental health problems in the economic downturn. It builds on the significant investment we are already making, annual funding rising to £173 million by 2010-11, to train a new workforce and invest in high quality psychological therapy services.
	The mechanism to allocate the extra £13 million to the local NHS is yet to be determined, although it will be distributed in the 2009-10 financial year. Departmental officials are working closely with strategic health authorities to ensure the money is used to address the needs of the primary care trusts appropriately.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the cost of residual value payments which may be made to providers of independent sector treatment centres (ISTC) projects contracted under the  (a) first and  (b) second wave of the ISTC programme.

Ben Bradshaw: The current estimate of the residual value payments on all wave 1 contracts is approximately £176 million and in phase II approximately £40 million.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department  (a) has issued and  (b) plans to issue on the renegotiation of independent treatment sector contracts.

Ben Bradshaw: No formal guidance on the renegotiation of independent sector treatment contracts has yet been issued. A degree of national consistency will be necessary as this work is taken forward. Any formal guidance would be developed in discussion with the national health service and the independent sectors. It is expected that decisions will be taken based on local service need and value for money.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of refinancing independent sector treatment centre premises and leasing them back to independent providers.

Ben Bradshaw: No assessment has yet been made of the possibility of refinancing independent sector treatment centre premises and leasing them back to independent providers.
	As plans develop for the management of contract expiry, all options will be considered.

NHS: Buildings

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what gross internal floor area each NHS organisation held which was attributable to buildings with temporary planning consent in each of the last five years; and what the ERIC code of each organisation is.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has collected annual data from national health service trusts through the Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) relating to:
	"The gross internal floor area that is attributable to buildings with temporary planning consent, as defined in the Planning Regulations (normally with up to two years planning consent). Exclude site cabins used by private contractors but include all relevant buildings that are either owned by the NHS Trust or defined within the terms of a lease, service level agreement, or tenancy agreement. Excludes leased out areas."
	The data for 2007-08 have been placed in the Library.
	The information provided has been supplied by the NHS and had not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation. Provision of this data was voluntary for all NHS trusts including foundation trusts.
	A list of the organisations codes used in ERIC has also been placed in the Library.

NHS: Fairtrade Initiative

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to encourage NHS organisations to purchase fair trade products where appropriate.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is committed to the principles of fair and ethical trade. We have already made a clear commitment, in the 2008 Global Health Strategy, to
	"support the work of the British Medical Association-led Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group, foster good practice in the National Health Service and private healthcare system, and work with industry and other countries to encourage fair and ethical trade".
	In addition, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency issued "Ethical Procurement for Health" for consultation in December 2008. A copy has been placed in the Library. This encourages NHS organisations to consider labour standards issues within procurement and to adopt appropriate policies and procedures to assure standards are maintained in line with International Labour Organisation conventions.

Pharmacy: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licensed pharmacies there were in Hemel Hempstead in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: This information is not held in the format requested. However, data are held for the number of community pharmacies in contract with their primary care trust (PCT) at 31 March each year. These data were first published in 2004-05, and are held by PCT area only.
	Since 2006, West Hertfordshire PCT has covered Hemel Hempstead constituency. Prior to 2006, West Hertfordshire PCT was made up of Dacorum PCT, Hertsmere PCT, St. Albans and Harpenden PCT and Watford and Three Rivers PCT.
	The number of community pharmacies in contract with Hemel Hempstead PCT at 31 March each year for 2006-08, and with Dacorum PCT, Hertsmere PCT, St. Albans and Harpenden PCT and Watford and Three Rivers PCT for 2004-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of community pharmacies in contract with PCT at 31 March 
			  PCT  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Dacorum PCT 27 27 — — 
			 Hertsmere PCT 23 23 — — 
			 St. Albans and Harpenden PCT 26 27 — — 
			 Watford and Three Rivers PCT 42 41 — — 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT — — 123 123 
			  Notes: 1. Each community pharmacy has an arrangement with a PCT to dispense national health service prescriptions. The arrangement specifies both the premises and the named contractor. 2. Community pharmacies can dispense the full range of drugs and appliances as listed in the monthly Drug Tariff published by the NHS Prescription Services (previously known as the Prescription Pricing Division) of the NHS Business Services Authority.

Smoking

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females in the age groups (i) 10 to 15, (ii) 16 to 24, (iii) 25 to 49, (iv) 50 to 64, (v) 65 to 79 and (vi) 80 years and over (A) started and (B) ceased smoking in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	Respondents to the General Household Survey (GHS) aged 16 and over have been asked questions about smoking behaviour since 1974. General trends in smoking are included in the GHS. The overall prevalence of smoking in England among the adult population was 21 per cent. in 2007. This is the lowest prevalence level since records began.

Spinal Injuries

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on publicly funded clinical research into  (a) a cure for spinal cord injury and  (b) the prevention of secondary complications associated with spinal cord injury between 2003 and 2008.

Phil Hope: The expenditure data available on research related to spinal injury are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Medical Research Council (MRC)  Department 
			 2003-04 2.6 0.2 
			 2004-05 1.4 0.2 
			 2005-06 1.2 0.2 
			 2006-07 1.5 0.1 
			 2007-08 1.8 0.2 
		
	
	The MRC figures include projects concerned directly with spinal cord injury and projects investigating related developmental or pathophysiological mechanisms likely to be relevant to understanding mechanisms of repair. They do not include projects related to spinal fracture arising from osteoporosis.
	The MRC supports a great deal of basic underpinning research on the structure and function of the nervous system, the cost of which is not included in these figures.
	The departmental figures relate to national research programme expenditure. They do not include expenditure on relevant research funded from the research and development allocations made to national health service providers. That information is not held centrally.

Swimming

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what swimming organisations will be invited to be members of the Physical Activity Alliance as part of the Change for Life initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department has pledged to support the creation of a Physical Activity Alliance and is keen to encourage a membership that spans the physical activity sector. However, it is not the Department's role to be prescriptive as to its membership.
	The Physical Activity Alliance will shortly be consulting on how it can best fulfil the role set out in the Physical Activity Plan. We would expect any organisation whose aims are compatible with those of the Alliance and willing to abide by its terms of membership to become eligible to join the organisation. This would extend to any swimming organisation.

Swimming

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has undertaken on the Swim4Life programme as part of the Change for Life initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Change4Life team carried out qualitative research which informed the development of Swim4Life (and other sub-brands).
	A toolkit for local supporters is being developed by the Department for Swim4Life to include help, tips and fun pool games for local organisations and families. Materials created by both Swimming Teachers Association and Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) are being reviewed as potential content for this toolkit. ASA are helping us to ensure that all the content that we include in the Swim4Life toolkit is safe and fit for purpose.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress the Government has made towards its targets for apprenticeships.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 12 March 2009
	This Government have rescued and expanded the apprenticeship programme. We will meet our target of 130,000 completions by 2010-11. Completions have more than trebled since 2001-02, from 39,000 to 113,000 in 2007-08. This means that over the 10-year period from 2001-02, to the end of the CSR period in 2010-11, around 900,000 young people and adults will have successfully completed their apprenticeship. Completion rates also reached an all-time high in 2007-08 of 64 per cent., compared to 48 per cent. in 2005-06. By 2020 we aim to deliver over 250,000 apprenticeship starts and 190,000 successful completions in order to meet the Leitch ambition for apprenticeships in England. We are on track to meet this ambition with a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007-08.

Astra: Redundancy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many Astra workers who were made redundant in 1993 had not accepted a change to their redundancy conditions and were still covered by the transfer of undertaking arrangements agreed with the Government at the time.

Si�n Simon: All of the Astra employees who were made redundant in 1993 received statutory redundancy payments in line with their extant entitlements. I understand that it was a revised condition of service that they had to accept changes to their redundancy entitlement, during the course of their employment by Astra, if they wished to remain Astra employees.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with which banks his Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Si�n Simon: In the 2008-09 financial year, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has held a contract with Deutsche Bank for financial advice in respect of the student loan sales programme.

Departmental Public Consultation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments for  (a) polling and  (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has not made any direct payments to either Deborah Mattinson or Opinion Leader Research (OLR) since its inception in June 2007. However, there has been one payment through the Central Office of Information to OLR, on behalf of DIUS. This payment was for OLR to organise two citizens' juries, which took place on 10 and 11 December 2007 in London and Hull. This was a joint project between the Department for Communities and Local Government, and DIUS.
	The final cost, shared between the two Departments, was 59,615. DIUS made a contribution of 29,807 to this amount, these figures are exclusive of VAT.

Departmental Scientists

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree.

David Lammy: The Department does not have a single dedicated budget for scientific advice and research. A range of research and analysis is commissioned from external providers in support of different policy and delivery objectives and funded from relevant budgets, making a precise evaluation of the size of the total spend difficult. However, in 2007-08 the Department estimates up to 10 million was spent in these areas, and anticipates that the spend for 2008-09 will be of a similar size.
	The number of staff with a science and engineering degree are listed in the following table. These details were provided on a voluntary basis, in response to a DIUS staff survey (December 2008)
	
		
			   Total 
			 Engineering 7 
			 Science 81 
			 Total 88

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1734W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the most recent staff survey undertaken by his Department.

Si�n Simon: A copy of the results of the Department's first annual all staff survey which was undertaken in October 2008 has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many learner places were funded by the Offender Learning and Skills Service in  (a) basic literacy,  (b) basic numeracy and  (c) other courses in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The Offender Learning and Skills Service was introduced across England from the start of the 2006/07 academic year.
	
		
			  Learning enrolments  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Literacy 40,761 50,936 
			 Numeracy 33,590 42,364 
			 Other 165,694 206,639 
			
			 Total 240,045 299,939 
		
	
	The Learning and Skills Council and its providers determine the number of places available through learner enrolments.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding the Offender Learning and Skills Service has provided for  (a) basic literacy,  (b) basic numeracy and  (c) other courses for offenders in each year for which figures are available; and how much it expects to spend in each of the next three years.

Si�n Simon: The Offender Learning and Skills Service was introduced across England from the start of the 2006-07 academic year.
	In 2006-07 the Learning and Skills Council funding through the Offender Learning and Skills Service was:
	
		
			   000 
			 Literacy 22,707 
			 Numeracy 18,955 
			 Other courses 64,738 
			   
			 Total 106,400 
		
	
	The equivalent information is not yet available for the 2007-08 academic year.
	The Learning and Skills Council is working with National Offender Management Service's Directors of Offender Management in the regions to determine the learning provision to be jointly commissioned in the 2009-10 academic year.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much money was spent by the Offender Learning and Skills Service on training for offenders in each year for which figures are available, broken down by type of course funded.

Si�n Simon: In the 2006-07 academic year, the first full year in which the Offender Learning and Skills Service operated across the whole of England, the Learning and Skills Council invested a total of 106.4 million which funded 240,045 enrolments. The investment by skills area can be broken down as in the following table:
	
		
			  000 
			  Total 
			 Health, public services and care 5,107 
			 Science and mathematics 686 
			 Agriculture, horticulture and animal care 846 
			 Engineering and manufacturing technologies 1,204 
			 Construction, planning and the built environment 6,979 
			 Information and communication technology 15,553 
			 Retail and commercial enterprise 4,860 
			 Leisure, travel and tourism 305 
			 Arts, media and publishing 5,745 
			 History, philosophy and theology 458 
			 Social sciences 294 
			 Languages, literature and culture 917 
			 Education and training 897 
			 Preparation for life and work 59,320 
			 Business, administration and law 2,340 
			 Not recorded 891 
		
	
	Data for the 2007-08 academic year will be available shortly.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many learner places were funded by the Offender Learning and Skills Service in each year for which figures are available, broken down by category of learner.

Si�n Simon: The Offender Learning and Skills Service was introduced across England from the start of the 2006-07 academic year.
	
		
			  Learning enrolments  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Offenders held in youth detention accommodation. 41,056 46,397 
			 Offenders held in adult detention accommodation. 198,989 253,542 
		
	
	The Learning and Skills Council and its providers determine the number of places available through learner enrolments.

English Language: Education

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 55-56W, on English language: education, which private providers received funding to deliver courses on English for speakers of other languages in 2008-09; on what basis those providers were chosen; how the courses were delivered; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council provides funding for English for Speakers of Other languages (ESOL) courses to private providers as part of their overall allocation of funding for adult learning. Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data show that around 50 private providers received funding to deliver ESOL courses in 2008-09. It is not possible to list individual providers and these figures do not include Train to Gain as these data are not available at the present time.
	Private providers funded by the LSC to deliver ESOL courses are selected by the same process as other providers. The process for choosing providers begins with the LSC's annual Statement of Priorities document which sets out the key policy and investment priorities for the further education sector. Each LSC region produces a Regional Commissioning Statement which sets out the totality of provision to be secured in each region for the next academic year and which sets national priorities in a regional context. Private providers receiving LSC funding to deliver ESOL will be liable to meet the same quality criteria as FE colleges.
	On the basis of the priorities and investment set out in these documents, the LSC then enters a commissioning process with its current provider base (which includes private providers) to secure provision for the next academic year.
	In some regions, where there has been a strategic need to meet gaps in provision or to improve quality, ESOL provision has been tendered. The LSC commissions providers in light of their performance, the quality of their delivery, their capacity and capability, including their financial health. Allocations and contracts are then agreed with providers based on a planning assumption of the volumes the provider will deliver. Contracts are monitored regularly and robustly for all provision and increases or decreases applied to delivery volumes where appropriate.
	ESOL courses are delivered using a variety of methods by accredited ESOL teachers. ESOL Skills for Life qualifications have been designed to meet the needs of the broad range of learners who want to live and work in this country and if, appropriate, intend to become citizens of the UK and are based on the National Standards for Adult Literacy. At levels 1 and 2, the ESOL Skills for Life assess reading through the same national tests as are used for Key Skills Communication qualifications and the level 1 and 2 Certificate in Adult Literacy.

Further Education: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), which 79 colleges have been given the first stage of approval in principle by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC); and which 65 colleges have submitted bids to the LSC for approval in principle.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for further education colleges is administrated by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to decisions and records held by the Council, I have asked Mark Haysom, the LSC Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Higher Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which universities have been classified by the Higher Education Funding Council for England as at risk in each of the last 10 years, broken down by level of risk.

David Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council is under a legal duty to consider the financial health of those institutions it funds. The Council's board periodically receives papers on the small number of institutions which are considered to be 'at risk'. Following discussion with the Information Commissioner those papers are published after a suitable interval, to both protect the financial integrity of that institution and ensure the public interest is maintained. This is set as a minimum period of three years. Data on those institutions at risk extracted from the board's papers are now publicly available and the tables have been placed in the House Libraries.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of young people from each local authority began an undergraduate course at a higher education institution in  (a) 1997-98 and  (b) 2007-08.

David Lammy: The number of young undergraduate entrants from each local authority is shown in the accompanying table.
	It is not possible to calculate what proportion of young people from each local authority began an undergraduate course at a UK higher education institution in 2007-08. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) published Young participation in higher education in January 2005, which is available from the HEFCE website at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/.
	The HEFCE report shows participation rates for young people who enter higher education aged 18 or 19 disaggregated by local education authority (LEA) for the years 1997 to 2000.
	At national level, the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) covers English-domiciled 17 to 30-year-old first-time entrants to higher education courses, at UK higher education institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh further education colleges, who remain on their course for at least six months. The latest available figure is 39.8 per cent. in 2006-07. For young people (aged 17-20), the figure is 31.6 per cent.
	
		
			  Young( 1)  undergraduate entrants( 2)  by local authority( 3)  UK higher education institutions( 4)  academic years 1997/98 to 2007/08 
			  Local authority  1997/98  2007/08 
			 City of London 15 20 
			 Camden 655 960 
			 Greenwich 630 1,130 
			 Hackney 520 1,075 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 475 750 
			 Islington 465 855 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 610 765 
			 Lambeth 725 1,325 
			 Lewisham 715 1,385 
			 Southwark 635 1,335 
			 Tower Hamlets 465 1,045 
			 Wandsworth 815 1,255 
			 Westminster 620 885 
			 Barking and Dagenham 285 715 
			 Barnet 1,850 2,575 
			 Bexley 695 1,145 
			 Brent 1,405 2,065 
			 Bromley 1,295 1,750 
			 Croydon 1,350 2,175 
			 Ealing 1,500 2,165 
			 Enfield 1,265 1,895 
			 Haringey 790 1,435 
			 Harrow 1,475 2,165 
			 Havering 640 1,020 
			 Hillingdon 905 1,475 
			 Hounslow 1,000 1,405 
			 Kingston upon Thames 590 1,045 
			 Merton 695 1,100 
			 Newham 890 1,880 
			 Redbridge 1,245 2,050 
			 Richmond upon Thames 870 1,250 
			 Sutton 635 1,020 
			 Waltham Forest 825 1,400 
			 Birmingham 3,820 5,060 
			 Coventry 1,135 1,330 
			 Dudley 1,040 1,280 
			 Sandwell 840 1,170 
			 Solihull 955 1,295 
			 Walsall 835 1,095 
			 Wolverhampton 1,040 1,290 
			 Knowsley 265 610 
			 Liverpool 960 1,860 
			 St. Helens 615 675 
			 Sefton 1,215 1,480 
			 Wirral 1,250 1,730 
			 Bolton 1,145 1,205 
			 Bury 730 1,010 
			 Manchester 1,040 1,715 
			 Oldham 705 1,025 
			 Rochdale 760 950 
			 Salford 505 690 
			 Stockport 1,180 1,480 
			 Tameside 635 785 
			 Trafford 1,030 1,385 
			 Wigan 875 1,040 
			 Barnsley 450 690 
			 Doncaster 745 950 
			 Rotherham 725 920 
			 Sheffield 1,410 2,075 
			 Bradford 1,625 2,140 
			 Calderdale 685 865 
			 Kirklees 1,650 1,920 
			 Leeds 2,170 2,935 
			 Wakefield 875 1,090 
			 Gateshead 610 755 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 805 1,130 
			 North Tyneside 705 835 
			 South Tyneside 485 530 
			 Sunderland 820 1,065 
			 Isles Of Scilly 10 15 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 675 910 
			 Bristol, City of 1,155 1,285 
			 North Somerset 880 990 
			 South Gloucestershire 945 1,110 
			 Hartlepool 250 395 
			 Middlesbrough 485 765 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 555 700 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 765 1,005 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 470 690 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,385 1,530 
			 North East Lincolnshire 450 485 
			 North Lincolnshire 580 635 
			 North Yorkshire 2,465 3,030 
			 York 630 780 
			 Bedfordshire 1,640 2,075 
			 Luton 700 1,040 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,720 3,290 
			 Milton Keynes 755 1,075 
			 Derbyshire 2,630 3,100 
			 Derby 840 985 
			 Dorset 1,445 1,865 
			 Poole 465 630 
			 Bournemouth 520 625 
			 Durham 1,610 1,780 
			 Darlington 305 445 
			 East Sussex 1,785 2,165 
			 Brighton and Hove 655 1,005 
			 Hampshire 5,330 6,255 
			 Portsmouth 410 605 
			 Southampton 575 750 
			 Leicestershire 2,750 3,145 
			 Leicester 1,155 1,660 
			 Rutland 205 230 
			 Staffordshire 3,130 3,905 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 555 785 
			 Wiltshire 1,765 2,130 
			 Swindon 410 640 
			 Bracknell Forest 375 505 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 690 805 
			 West Berkshire 645 730 
			 Reading 415 565 
			 Slough 435 700 
			 Wokingham 815 1,075 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,205 2,515 
			 Peterborough 520 675 
			 Cheshire 3,060 3,740 
			 Halton 310 485 
			 Warrington 660 995 
			 Devon 2,495 3,215 
			 Plymouth 705 975 
			 Torbay 385 460 
			 Essex 4,550 6,245 
			 Southend-on-Sea 545 725 
			 Thurrock 290 505 
			 Herefordshire 640 855 
			 Worcestershire 2,330 2,780 
			 Kent 5,035 6,840 
			 Medway 710 1,150 
			 Lancashire 4,600 4,745 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 480 545 
			 Blackpool 325 320 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,550 3,155 
			 Nottingham 545 850 
			 Shropshire 1,305 1,455 
			 Telford and Wrekin 530 645 
			 Cornwall 1,965 2,280 
			 Cumbria 1,710 2,040 
			 Gloucestershire 2,505 2,820 
			 Hertfordshire 4,665 6,135 
			 Isle of Wight 490 465 
			 Lincolnshire 2,265 2,820 
			 Norfolk 2,455 3,020 
			 Northamptonshire 2,335 3,065 
			 Northumberland 1,355 1,305 
			 Oxfordshire 2,625 3,205 
			 Somerset 1,980 2,410 
			 Suffolk 2,150 3,240 
			 Surrey 5,170 6,425 
			 Warwickshire 2,265 2,580 
			 West Sussex 3,075 3,350 
			 Total England 183,110 240,480 
			
			 Isle of Anglesey 270 370 
			 Gwynedd 465 645 
			 Conwy 445 690 
			 Denbighshire 355 460 
			 Flintshire 535 650 
			 Wrexham 485 460 
			 Powys 565 730 
			 Ceredigion 330 380 
			 Pembrokeshire 635 620 
			 Carmarthenshire 860 925 
			 City and County of Swansea 1,045 1,135 
			 Neath Port Talbot 545 640 
			 Bridgend 535 740 
			 The Vale of Glamorgan 690 770 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 930 1,190 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 185 310 
			 Caerphilly 540 720 
			 Blaenau Gwent 180 230 
			 Torfaen 375 365 
			 Monmouthshire 500 565 
			 Newport 500 695 
			 Cardiff 1,195 1,735 
			 Total Wales 12,155 15,015 
			 Total England and Wales 195,265 255,500 
			
			 Belfast 810 1,340 
			 Western 1,075 2,195 
			 North Eastern 1,420 2,540 
			 South Eastern 1,575 2,390 
			 Southern 1,305 2,505 
			 Total Northern Ireland 6,185 10,970 
			
			 Channel Islands 55 970 
			
			 Aberdeen City 860 925 
			 Aberdeenshire 1,270 1,315 
			 Angus 515 490 
			 Argyll and Bute 425 425 
			 Scottish Borders 515 480 
			 Clackmannanshire 165 155 
			 West Dunbartonshire 295 320 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 615 595 
			 Dundee City 485 515 
			 East Ayrshire 415 505 
			 East Dunbartonshire 905 740 
			 East Lothian 320 435 
			 East Renfrewshire 685 765 
			 City of Edinburgh 1,795 2,070 
			 Falkirk 410 370 
			 Fife 1,290 1,210 
			 Glasgow City 1,480 1,985 
			 Highland 860 1,215 
			 Inverclyde 345 365 
			 Midlothian 290 260 
			 Moray 315 520 
			 North Ayrshire 525 480 
			 North Lanarkshire 1,025 1,260 
			 Orkney Islands 95 130 
			 Perth and Kinross 660 795 
			 Renfrewshire 805 785 
			 Shetland Islands 90 150 
			 South Ayrshire 595 535 
			 South Lanarkshire 1,200 1,515 
			 Stirling 435 355 
			 West Lothian 520 510 
			 Eilean Siar 130 180 
			 Total Scotland 20,345 22,355 
			
			 Total UK 221,845 289,795 
			 Missing 55,350 55,710 
			 (1) Young refers to entrants aged under 21. (2) Covers entrants to both full-time and part-time courses. (3) Local authority is derived from postcode. Those with missing or invalid postcodes will be coded as missing. (4) Figures exclude the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series.  Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as 1 December. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Higher Education: Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what projects have been implemented as part of the Prevent strand of Project Contest to combat radicalisation in universities in England and Wales.

David Lammy: We work with universities and student bodies to support universities in addressing the issues that can drive students into the hands of violent extremist groups.
	Specific projects have included:
	The publication of guidance for the higher education sector focussed on promoting shared values, fostering a healthy spirit of debate to engage and challenge those that hold extremist views, breaking down segregation among different communities, supporting students who may be at risk, and ensuring that staff and students are aware of their roles in preventing violent extremism.
	A two-year student leadership pilot, run by Youth at Risk, that aims to improve student leadership skills and develop communities built on trust.
	A project run by the Institute of Community Cohesion that is gathering information on social cohesion through a series of surveys and focus groups.
	Funding for police forces so they can work with local universities to help implement the guidance mentioned above.
	Local authorities and Government offices have been tasked with involving their local education institutions within their own local Prevent implementation arrangements.

Higher Education: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of school leavers resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire went on to higher education in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: The following table shows the number of 18-year-old entrants to undergraduate courses from Hemel Hempstead constituency and Hertfordshire local authority. It is not possible to identify the number of school leavers from these areas who did not enter higher education in order to produce a participation rate.
	
		
			  18-year-old undergraduate entrants( 1)  from Hemel Hempstead constituency( 2)  and Hertfordshire local authority( 2) , UK higher education institutions( 3) , academic years 1998/99 to 2007/08 
			   18-year-old entrants 
			  Academic year  Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire 
			 1998/99 245 2,970 
			 1999/2000 230 2,960 
			 2000/01 220 3,020 
			 2001/02 250 3,030 
			 2002/03 245 3,145 
			 2003/04 255 4,150 
			 2004/05 245 3,430 
			 2005/06 290 3,885 
			 2006/07 265 3,775 
			 2007/08 310 3,815 
			 (1) Covers entrants studying both full-time and part-time courses. (2 )Parliamentary constituency and local authority are defined by full and valid home postcodes, returned by the student to HESA. (3 )Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants over the time series.  Note: Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Higher Education: Research

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much research funding his Department will provide to university science and technology departments in the next four years.

David Lammy: The Department provides research funding to universities through the Science and Research Budget and also, for English universities, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
	The allocations in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review for the Science and Research Budget are: 3,554 million in 2008-09; 3,715 million in 2009-10; and 3,970 million in 2010-11. Most of this budget is allocated to the research councils which they use to fund research at universities and other research institutes.
	Additionally, HEFCE provides quality-related research funding to English universities. The CSR07 allocations are: 1,444 million in 2008-09; 1,509 million in 2009-10, and 1,634 million in 2010-11. HEFCE also provides capital grants to universities to ensure the maintenance of world-class research facilities. The allocations are: 291 million in 2008-09; 366 million in 2009-10, and 167 million in 2010-11. The 2010-11 figures are indicative and will be finalised in early 2010.

Metrication

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) other Government departments,  (b) local authorities and  (c) other groups following his announcement in October 2008 of the intention of deterring prosecutions of people selling goods in imperial measures.

David Lammy: Neither I nor any of my ministerial colleagues in the Department have had discussions. However, officials in the Department have held discussions on enforcement of the law in this area with:
	 (a) The Department of Communities and Local Government
	The Local Better Regulation Office
	 (b) The Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS)
	 (c) The Trading Standards Institute
	The British Weights and Measures Association

Opinion Leader Research

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies have paid Opinion Leader Research in each financial year since 2003-04.

Si�n Simon: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created as a result of machinery of Government changes in June 2007. Information on how much was paid to Opinion Leader Research (OLR) prior to this date is held by predecessor Departments.
	Neither DIUS nor its agencies have made any direct payments to Opinion Leader Research (OLR) since its inception in June 2007. However, there has been one payment through the Central Office of Information (COI) to OLR, on behalf of DIUS. This payment was for OLR to organise two citizens' juries, which took place on 10 and 11 December 2007 in London and Hull. This was a joint project between the Department for Communities and Local Government, and DIUS.
	The final cost, shared between the two Departments, was 59,615. DIUS made a contribution of 29,807 to this amount, these figures are exclusive of VAT.

Student Wastage: Higher Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department collects on  (a) university completion rates and  (b) reasons for non-completion of university courses.

David Lammy: The latest information from the performance indicators in higher education shows that the percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree starters at English higher education institutions, who were expected to neither gain an award nor transfer to another institution, was 13.9 per cent. in the 2005-06 academic year. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in June.
	We are maintaining very good completion rates for first degrees with the latest statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showing that the UK ranks third of the 27 countries reporting data in this area. This has been achieved and maintained during a period when higher education has been opened up to both increased numbers and a greater diversity of students.
	The latest available information on reasons for leaving higher education courses is shown in the table.
	
		
			  UK domiciled full-time first degree enrolments who left their course English higher education institutions academic year 2007/08 
			  Reason for leaving  Enrolments 
			 Successful completion of course 202,405 
			 Academic failure/left in bad standing/not permitted to progress 9,310 
			 Transferred to another institution 2,210 
			 Health reasons 900 
			 Death 115 
			 Financial reasons 705 
			 Other personal reasons and dropped out 12,130 
			 Written off after lapse of time 2,175 
			 Exclusion 675 
			 Gone into employment 880 
			 Other 5,355 
			 Completion of courseresult unknown 390 
			 Unknown 1,150 
			 Total who left without having transferred 236,190 
			 Total who left in academic year 238,400 
			  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	The reason for leaving information on the HESA Student Record should be treated with some caution, because the 'Other personal reasons and dropped out' and 'Other' fields are used extensively. Institutions are not always able to record the precise reason for leaving. Furthermore, HESA allows only one reason for withdrawal to be recorded, however it is likely that many students leave for a combination of reasons.

Students: Loans

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1337-38W, on students: loans, 
	(1)  how many applications for career development loans have been  (a) made and  (b) granted in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many career development loans have been awarded in each of the last five years; and how many have been awarded in 2008-09 to date.

Si�n Simon: Applications for Career Development Loans are made direct to the banks engaged in the programme; details of applications that are unsuccessful are not made available to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which administers the programme. The LSC collect information relating to loans that have been agreed by the banks.
	The numbers of loans made in the last five full financial years and this year in Great Britain are set out in the table. The LSC believes that the lower numbers in 2007-08 and during this year reflect the adoption of tighter lending strategies by banks, but not a reduction in demand from learners.
	New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future set out that Government would make funding available to increase the number of loans.
	The banks have agreed to work with the Department and the LSC to agree the terms of an expanded programme which would include the higher maximum loan value of 10,000. I expect the increase in opportunities that Professional and Career Development Loans will offer in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to be taken up in response to increased, targeted marketing and as people continue to need to re-skill in response to the impact of the economic downturn.
	
		
			  Career development loans made in Great Britain 
			   Number 
			 2003-04 17,331 
			 2004-05 15,273 
			 2005-06 17,840 
			 2006-07 12,197 
			 2007-08 9,145 
			 2008-09 to 9 March 2009 7,580

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what amount of mortgage-style student loans taken out before 1998 is yet to be repaid.

David Lammy: The total amount of mortgage-style student loans taken out before 1998 which has yet to be repaid stood, at 31 March 2008, at 962.3 million. At this date, 56 per cent. of borrowers with mortgage-style loans had fully repaid their loans. These are provisional figures which will be updated in the Statistical First Release due to be published in the summer of 2009.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many live accounts are held by the Student Loans Company in relation to which no repayment is currently being received, broken down by reason for the lack of repayment.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education on 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1939-41W. The response remains the same because the information published on 10 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1938W is based on the Statistical First Release which remains the latest published information available.
	It is not currently possible to disclose information for the period after 31 March 2008 because, following National Statistics protocol, the statistics for the period ended 31 March 2009 will be embargoed until their publication in the Statistical First Release due in June/July 2009.

Union Learning Fund

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 396W, on the political levy, what funding his Department has provided to trades unions through the Union Learning Fund to promote awareness and understanding of trades union members' right to opt out of political funds.

Si�n Simon: The Union Learning Fund does not provide funding to trade unions to promote awareness of trade union members' right to opt out of political funds. Its primary objective is to help trade unions and their Union Learning Representatives drive up the demand for learning in the workplace.
	There are now over 20,500 trained Union Learning Representatives who have helped more than 600,000 workers into learning since the Union Learning Fund was introduced. Over 200,000 were helped last year alone, many from those hard to reach groups who employers and training providers find it so difficult to engage with, including over 34,000 workers with poor basic literacy and numeracy skills.
	With their real-life experience and credibility in the workplace, Union Learning Representatives inspire trust and foster ambition in others, giving them the confidence to seek new ways to improve their skills. They are making a big difference to the lives of working people right across the country, helping them to learn new skills and update existing ones and giving them a real stake in the future.
	That is why we will continue to support the Union Learning Fund and unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, to develop and promote the work of Union Learning Representatives so that by 2010 there will be 22,000 trained Union Learning Representatives helping over 250,000 workers back into learning each year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken was to make a decision on the asylum claims of people in receipt of section 4 support in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: Support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is available for failed asylum seekers who are temporarily prevented from leaving the United Kingdom through no fault of their own.
	Information on the time taken to reach an initial decision on asylum applications made by people subsequently in receipt of section 4 support can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Detainees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many failed asylum seekers were detained in the immigration detention estate on 28 February 2009;
	(2)  how many people were detained in the immigration detention estate on 28 February 2009, broken down by nationality.

Phil Woolas: Published national statistics on persons (including those who had claimed asylum at some stage) held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. Information on persons detained as at 27 December 2008 by country of nationality has been published in Table J of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom4th Quarter 2008 supplementary tables, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	Comparable information for March 2009 will be published on 20 May.
	It is not possible to say, within these statistics, how many of the detainees are failed asylum seekers.

Asylum: Housing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were living in National Asylum Support Service-funded dispersal accommodation on 1 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) no longer exists, although its functions continue to be exercised by the UK Border Agency.
	Published statistics take a snapshot of asylum seekers supported at the end of the quarter. As at the end of December 2008, there were 25,145 asylum seekers recorded as supported in accommodation in the United Kingdom. This excludes any asylum seekers in initial accommodation and unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
	Information on asylum support is published annually and quarterly in the Control of Immigration statistical bulletins. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Asylum: Housing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses were rented by her Department under the National Asylum Support Service scheme on 1 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) no longer exists, although its functions continue to be exercised by the UK Border Agency. The UK Border Agency has 28 contracts with providers to supply accommodation for eligible asylum seekers. To collate the accommodation they provide to accommodate asylum seekers would be disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Housing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on housing under the National Asylum Support Service scheme in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The National Asylum Support Service no longer exists. Its functions have been taken by the UK Border Agency. In the calendar year 2008, the UK Border Agency and its predecessor the Border and Immigration Agency, spent 214 million on accommodation for asylum seekers.

Biometrics: Airports

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airports were using iris-recognition technology systems on 28 February 2009.

Phil Woolas: Four airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, were using IRIS technology systems on 28 February 2009.

British Nationality

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizenship ceremonies have been conducted in each  (a) English region and  (b) London local authority area in each of the last two years.

Phil Woolas: The available data for 2006 and 2007 are given in the following table. Data for 2008 are scheduled for publication in May 2009.
	Statistics on persons attending a British citizenship ceremony by region of the United Kingdom and authority 2006-07 are published in table 8 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, 2007. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			  Persons attending a British citizenship ceremony by English region and London local authority 2006( 1) -07( 2) 
			Ceremo ny a ttended( 3,4) 
			  English  r egion  Local  a uthority  2006  2007 
			 North East  1,420 1,705 
			 North West  6,345 6,770 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber  4,790 4,850 
			 East Midlands  4,625 4,925 
			 West Midlands  7,775 7,595 
			 East of England  6,715 7,975 
			 South East  12,145 14,640 
			 South West  2,810 3,875 
			 
			 Greater London Barking and Dagenham 1,410 1,615 
			  Barnet 2,375 2,830 
			  Bexley 550 605 
			  Borough of Sutton (London) 590 850 
			  Brent 3,260 3,465 
			  Bromley 700 865 
			  Camden 1,725 1,890 
			  Corporation of the city of London 90 90 
			  Croydon 1,910 2,160 
			  Ealing 3,150 3,875 
			  Enfield 2,660 2,345 
			  Greenwich 1,400 1,560 
			  Hackney 2,240 1,830 
			  Hammersmith and Fulham 1,550 1,580 
			  Haringey 2,425 2,240 
			  Harrow 1,900 2,365 
			  Havering 355 450 
			  Hillingdon 1,490 1.955 
			  Hounslow 2,080 2,280 
			  Islington 1,660 1,685 
			  Kensington and Chelsea 1,165 1,300 
			  Kingston upon Thames 705 1,055 
			  Lambeth 2,285 2,245 
			  Lewisham 1,685 2,140 
			  Merton 1,535 1,775 
			  Newham 3,085 3,075 
			  Redbridge 1,800 1,915 
			  Richmond upon Thames 730 810 
			  Southwark 2,460 2,755 
			  Tower Hamlets 1,890 1,370 
			  Waltham Forest 1,860 1,860 
			  Wandsworth 2,145 2,345 
			  Westminster 2,125 2,515 
			  Total (Greater London) 56,995 61,690 
			 
			 Total (England)  103,615 114,025 
			 (1) Figures have been revised since the previous issue of this bulletin, for example to include late returns. (2) Provisional data. (3) A ceremony organised by county or local authorities for successful applicants over 18 years of age as the final stage in the process of attaining British citizenship. (4) Data rounded to the nearest 5.

Community Service Orders: Young People

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged between 13 and 19 years have served a community service order in  (a) England,  (b) the north-east and  (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 replaced the community service order with the community punishment order (CPO) for young offenders between the ages of 16 years and 17 years. This order is not available for children between the ages of 13 years and 15 years. Young offenders between the ages of 16 and 17 years may also be sentenced to the community punishment and rehabilitation order (CPRO), which combines community punishment with a period of supervision by a member of a Youth Offending Team.
	Following the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in April 2005, community punishment orders were replaced by the unpaid work requirement of the community or suspended sentence order for offenders over 18 years of age.
	The number of young offenders between the ages of 16 and 19 years who commenced community punishment or community punishment and rehabilitation orders in England and Wales and the north-east region during the last five years, as well as the number of unpaid work requirements started, is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  England and Wales 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 CPO 10,833 10,787 7,227 3,262 3,212 
			 CPRO 3,405 3,761 2,650 1,116 1,246 
			 Unpaid work   5,237 13,569 15,861 
		
	
	
		
			  North-east region 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 CPO 473 429 345 161 150 
			 CPRO 295 318 201 93 78 
			 Unpaid work   295 916 1,081 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide sentencing data by constituency.
	Matters arising in Scotland and Northern Ireland are for the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Office respectively.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Departmental Air Travel

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official journeys  (a) she and her predecessors and  (b) her officials made by plane in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which banks her Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: From best available records, the Home Department, inclusive of its agencies, does not hold and has not held contracts for the provision of financial advice for the financial year 2008-09.

Departmental Databases

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, column 598W, on departmental databases, by what means her Department uses ACORN data to target its communications.

Phil Woolas: We use ACORN to target our marketing campaigns by geographical location, and demographic factors. For example we target responsible drinking messages at young people.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what property has been lost or stolen from her Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Phil Woolas: The Department's recorded losses and thefts for 2007-08 were 10 stolen assets, at a total value of 8,905.
	The replacement cost of this property cannot be identified, without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Departmental policy is that every reasonable effort is to be made to minimise the possibility of loss or theft of property; and that whenever fraud occurs it is to be investigated with disciplinary action being taken against those who have engaged in it.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in her Department in 2008-09 to date.

Phil Woolas: The Department's 2008-09 resource accounts will disclose the salary, social security and pension cost of its special advisers. These resource accounts will also disclose the reimbursable expenses of all staff, including special advisers. The reimbursable expenses specifically of special advisers, is not separately disclosed. These resource accounts are expected to be laid before the 2009 summer recess.

Departmental Public Consultation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments for  (a) polling and  (b) other services her Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: None.

Departmental Public Relations

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of her Department's contracts with public relations consultancies was in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The following table provides the total spend on contracts with public relations consultancies for each of the last five financial years. It also includes a breakdown of the total by project.
	
		
			  Project  Cost () 
			  2003-04  
			 Total 512,919 
			 Security Industry Authority 150,573 
			 Child Protection on the Internet 70,000 
			 Domestic Violence 75,000 
			 Antisocial Behaviour 140,446 
			 Distraction Burglary 76,900 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 Total 1,032,653 
			 Queen's Awards 62,890 
			 Criminal Justice 312,137 
			 Alcohol Strategy 241,208 
			 Holocaust Memorial Day 47,179 
			 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 213,403 
			 Security Industry Authority 39,325 
			 Mental Health Project 64,815 
			 Year of the Volunteer 46,757 
			 Familial Homicide 4,940 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Total 1,575,216 
			 Antisocial Behaviour 340,971 
			 Security Industry Authority 20,009 
			 Year of the Volunteer 74,027 
			 Criminal Justice 273,263 
			 Tackling Violent Crime 158,799 
			 High Potential Development Scheme 40,000 
			 Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives PR 204,670 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 48,430 
			 Communities 100,330 
			 FRANK stakeholder support 314,716 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Total 857,091 
			 Community sentencing 258,491 
			 FRANK Stakeholder support 338,310 
			 Security Industry Authority 680 
			 Police Community Support Officers Recruitment 115,891 
			 High Potential Development Scheme 28,716 
			 Respect 59,303 
			 Single Non-Emergency Number 29,186 
			 Drugs and Crime 26,515 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Total 290,584 
			 FRANK stakeholder support 290,584

Departmental Scientists

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in her Department have a science or engineering degree.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office does not have a single research budget; it has science and research teams embedded in the main delivery areas, science funding is delegated across the Department to fund the science and research necessary within their directorate. The amount allocated to science and research in any one year is based on individual unit's business needs and therefore varies annually. The funding allocation for 2008-09 was approximately 50 million.
	The equivalent budget for 2007-08 was 51 million and was spent on physical sciences, engineering, social research, operational research, economic analysis and statistics. More information on how the Home Office uses science can be found in the Home Office science and innovation strategy; see:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research
	The Home Office employs around 195 scientists working on science and engineering delivery. Our systems do not hold information on the numbers of science and engineering degrees held by individuals. This information could not be collected without incurring disproportionate cost.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate her Department has made of the numbers of people in the UK illegally; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Since the phasing-out of embarkation controls in 1994 no Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by 2010 over 95 per cent. of non-European Economic Area foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country, rising to 100 per cent. by 2014. This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, watch-list checks for all travellers before they arrive or depart from the UK and ID cards for foreign nationals.
	The Government's plans, set out in 'Enforcing the Deal', published on 19 June 2008, set a clear goal to target and remove the most harmful people first, working with local authorities and enforcement agencies to shut down the privileges of the UK to those breaking the rules.
	Copies of this document are placed in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/enforcementbusinessplan08_09/enforcementbusinessplan08_09.pdf?view=Binary

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) UK and  (b) overseas-based lorry drivers were issued with fines for smuggling illegal immigrants into the UK in 2008.

Phil Woolas: There have been 1,766 processed cases involving lorry drivers who were served with penalties for smuggling immigrants into the UK during 2008.
	This figure can be broken down as follows:
	 (a) 195 UK lorry drivers
	 (b) 1,571 overseas drivers
	Some penalties issued during the last two quarters of 2008 are still to be processed.
	These figures have been sourced from locally collated management information held within locally accessed computer systems and do not represent National Statistics. They have not been the subject of National Statistics protocols and verification and should therefore be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Illegal Immigrants: Detainees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were being held in police detention on 28 February 2009.

Phil Woolas: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records which would be at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is for the Minister for Borders and Immigration disagreeing with the Office for National Statistics' figures on the number of the British population who are born abroad.

Phil Woolas: This Government established the UK Statistics Authority, the executive office of which is the Office for National Statistics. These bodies report directly to Parliament.
	I made it clear that my concerns were not with the figures themselves but rather the news release published at short-notice on 11 February 2009 entitled UK Born and Non UK Born Employment and the way these figures, taken together, can be used by others.
	The figure of 6.5 million people (one in nine of the total population) born overseas and resident in the UK, published by the Office for National Statistics on 24 February 2009, is a wide definition which includes British nationals born overseas (for example children whose parents are in the armed forces). The 4.1 million figure (one in 15 of the total population) provides a better indication of the nationality of those resident in the UK.
	They also include people who are here temporarily (working or students).
	We will continue to use the Points-Based System to ensure that we are doing the right thing by British workers and for the long-term stability of the economy. Given the economic circumstances and the action we are taking to be more selective, we expect the number of migrants coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area to fall during the next financial year.

Immigration Controls: Educational Institutions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions there have been between her Department and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the requirements placed upon higher and further education institutions under Tier 4 of the immigration controls established in 2008.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 March 2009
	The phased implementation of Tier 4 of the Points Based System, which has been agreed with the education sector and Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, commenced on 28 July 2008, when the UK Border Agency started accepting sponsor licence applications from educational institutions that wish to bring students from outside the European Economic Area to the UK for study. The Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 314) laid before the House on 9 March 2009 marks the start of the second phase: from 31 March 2009, only UK Border Agency licensed institutions will be able to bring students to the UK, and student applicants will need to meet the Tier 4 points test before being granted leave to enter or remain.
	The Joint Education Taskforce is the UK Border Agency's principal mechanism for consultation with the education sector and has been running since 2005. The JET comprises senior figures and representative bodies from all parts of the education sector, including higher and further education and officials from DIUS, and it and its sub-groups meet on a regular basis.
	In addition, throughout the development of Tier 4, the Home Department has had numerous meetings with DIUS and the education sector at both ministerial and official level. There has also been frequent ministerial and official correspondence between both Departments and the sector, regarding the requirements of the new system upon higher and further education institutions.

Immigration: Families

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation her Department undertook before deciding to withdraw the seven year concession on removal of families.

Phil Woolas: Wide debate and consultation was undertaken across the relevant UK Border Agency departments and with Ministers before withdrawing the concession and applying a much more structured consideration to all family cases under the Immigration Rules and the European Convention on Human Rights. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 9 December 2008,  Official Report, column 49WS.

Members: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the inquiry of 23 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on Noreen Akhtar (reference A1048872).

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency responded to the email from my right hon. Friend on 6 March 2009.

National Security

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings Ministers in her Department have had with groups of British Muslims on the possible effects of events in Gaza since 27 December 2008 on domestic security levels; and what the names were of the individuals who attended each meeting.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 January 2009
	On 8 January I met individuals from the Shah Jahal mosque, Bristol and on 15 January the Communities Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr. Khan) and I met representatives and individuals from a number of organisations, including the Sufi Muslim Council, Al Khoei Foundation, the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group, the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation, Association of Muslim Social Scientists, the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, Active Change Foundation, and Quilliam Foundation.

Offenders: Personal Records

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances information from the Police National Computer is sold; to whom it may be sold; what charges may be made; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Police National Computer is operated and managed by the National Policing Improvement Agency on behalf of the police service.
	The cost of operation and management is charged to users (police forces in England, Wales (Scotland, Northern Ireland)) and the following bodies which are authorised by information access principles:
	1. Access Northern Ireland
	2. British Transport Police
	3. Charity Commission
	4. Civil Nuclear Constabulary
	5. Courts (Warrant Enforcement)
	6. Criminal case Review Commission
	7. Criminal Records Bureau
	8. Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Litigations and Prosecutions
	9. Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	10. Department for Transport
	11. Department of Works and Pensions Solicitors
	12. Disclosure Scotland
	13. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
	14. Environment Agency
	15. Financial Services Authority
	16. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	17. Guernsey Police
	18. Health and Safety Executive
	19. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
	20. Highways Agency
	21. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
	22. Home Office
	23. Independent Police Complaints Commission
	24. Isle of Man Police
	25. Jersey Police
	26. Mersey Tunnel Police
	27. Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police
	28. Ministry Of Justice
	29. MOD Defence Vetting Agency
	30. National Air Traffic Services Ltd.
	31. National Offender Management Service
	32. National Health Service Counter Fraud
	33.Office for Civil Nuclear Security
	34. Office of fair Trading
	35. Port of Tilbury Police
	36. Prison Service
	37. Royal Military Police
	38. Security Services
	39. Service Police Crime Bureau
	40. Serious Organised Crime Agency (Domestic)
	41. Serious Organised Crime Agency (International)
	42. United Kingdom Border Agency
	43. Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Stop and Account

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces ceased using the stop and account form following the removal of the requirement to do so.

Jacqui Smith: From 1 January 2009, police forces in England and Wales are no longer required to complete a form when a stop and account is carried out. The only datum required to be recorded is that of ethnicity. The recording of that data is a matter for the chief officer of each individual police force.

Terrorism

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing counter-terrorism local profiles to enable the sharing of information between local authority chief executives and police borough commanders.

Vernon Coaker: Guidance was sent to police counter-terrorism environments in January, and counter-terrorism local profiles are currently under production by forces. Some have already been completed and delivered to basic command unit commanders and local authority chief executives. We are working with Association of Chief Police Officers and forces to support the delivery of CTLPs for priority areas in the 24 forces in receipt of PREVENT funding by June, and all other areas by 31 August.

UK Border Agency: Complaints

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints regarding staff the UK Border Agency received in 2008.

Phil Woolas: There were 436 recorded complaints made by members of the public against UK Border Agency staff in 2008.
	There were 105 recorded complaints made by UK Border Agency staff against other UK Border Agency staff in 2008.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency will reply to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare's, letters of 18 November 2008 and 5 January 2009 on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Richard Roller.

Phil Woolas: Visa Services Directorate replied to the hon. Member's correspondence on 9 March. The Directorate apologises for the delay in replying. However, the Border Agency has no record of receiving the correspondence originally and Visa Services Directorate obtained a copy from the hon. Member's office on 2 February.

UK Border Agency: Data Protection

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in the UK Border Agency are authorised to access electronic files and databases relating to an individual's  (a) immigration status,  (b) asylum application and  (c) passport application.

Phil Woolas: UK Border Agency officials are authorised to access the Case Information Database (CID). It performs a vital role as the main system for case-working applications and checking immigration status. CID is also the sole system for the processing of asylum applications. There are approximately 16,000 registered users across the Agency; all of them are security cleared and trained to use the system. The system is subject to stringent security and data protection processes and is monitored regularly to ensure compliance with these areas.
	Passport applications are handled separately by the Identity and Passport Service.

UK Border Agency: Marketing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the UK Border Agency's 2008-09 budget is allocated for publicity and promotional purposes.

Phil Woolas: The proportion of the UK Border Agency's budget for 2008-09 allocated for publicity and promotion is 0.38 per cent.
	This includes 2 million on marketing and 3.3 million on advertising and promotion.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2057W, on work permits: how many individuals obtained a work permit on the basis of an intracompany transfer for  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2008.

Phil Woolas: Intracompany Transfers are an important part of making the UK an attractive place in which to do business. Changes introduced under the points based system means that companies are limited to a pre-set yearly allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship. This allocation is reviewed annually to ensure that numbers required are fully justified.
	The following table shows the number of work permit applications approved for intracompany transfers for 2004 and 2008 broken down by industry sector.
	
		
			  Number of individual work permit intra-company transfer applications approved fo r 2004 and 2008 broken down by industry s ector 
			  Industry sector  2004  2008 
			 Administration, business and management services 5,250 6,690 
			 Agriculture activities 15 25 
			 Computer services 16,540 25,740 
			 Construction and land services 510 880 
			 Education and cultural activities 215 250 
			 Entertainment and leisure services 165 220 
			 Extraction industries 955 1,115 
			 Financial services 3,825 5,275 
			 Fish processingSBS *  
			 Government 30 20 
			 Health and medical services 420 455 
			 HospitalitySBS *  
			 Hospitality and catering 230 90 
			 Law related services 290 340 
			 Manufacturing 1,975 2,415 
			 Meat processing SBS   
			 Other food processingSBS  5 
			 Real estate and property services 25 45 
			 Retail and related services 430 550 
			 Security and protection services 30 115 
			 Sporting activities 10 10 
			 Telecommunications 890 2,460 
			 Transport 570 680 
			 Utilitiesgas, electric, water 405 635 
			 Total 32,770 48,010 
			 * Indicates one or two.  Indicates nil.  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 3. The industry sectors are not based on the ONS Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). 4. The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.  Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2057W, on work permits, how many applications for a work permit on the basis of an intracompany transfer in respect of non-UK nationals were  (a) made and  (b) granted in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: Intracompany transfers are an important part of making the UK an attractive place in which to do business. Changes introduced under the points based system means that companies are limited to a pre-set yearly allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship. This allocation is reviewed annually to ensure that numbers required are fully justified.
	The following table shows the number of work permit applications made and approved for intracompany transfers in each year for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2008.
	
		
			  Number of individual work permit intra-company transfer applications made and approved in each year for the period  1 January 2000 to  31 December 2008 
			   Applications made  Applications approved 
			 2000 26,900 26,155 
			 2001 28,200 27,440 
			 2002 27,400 26,100 
			 2003 28,350 27,385 
			 2004 33,645 32,770 
			 2005 34,680 33,745 
			 2006 43,950 43,050 
			 2007 50,225 48,735 
			 2008 49,710 48,010 
			 Total 323,060 313,385 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 3. The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.  Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2057W, on work permits, how many non-UK nationals of each nationality obtained a work permit on the basis of an intracompany transfer in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2008.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the number of work permit applications approved for intra-company transfers in 2004 and 2008 broken down by Nationality.
	
		
			  Number of individual work permit intracompany transfer applications approved for 2004 and 2008 broken down by nationality 
			  Nationality  2004  2008 
			 Afghanistan 5 15 
			 Albania 5 5 
			 Algeria 15 25 
			 Andorra *  
			 Angola 10 25 
			 Argentina 65 85 
			 Armenia 10 * 
			 Australia 1,285 1,380 
			 Azerbaijan 55 40 
			 Bahamas 5 * 
			 Bahrain * 5 
			 Bangladesh 20 15 
			 Barbados 5 * 
			 Belarus 5 10 
			 Belize   
			 Benin *  
			 Bolivia 5 5 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina * 10 
			 Botswana * 10 
			 Brazil 185 275 
			 British national overseas 45 10 
			 British Overseas CITZ.   
			 Brunei 5  
			 Bulgaria 50 45 
			 Burkina Faso   
			 Burma  10 
			 Burundi * * 
			 Cambodia * * 
			 Cameroon 5 10 
			 Canada 745 750 
			 Cape Verde *  
			 Chad *  
			 Chile 20 20 
			 China 395 695 
			 Colombia 60 85 
			 Comoros  * 
			 Congo * 5 
			 Costa Rica 15 5 
			 Croatia 20 30 
			 Cuba 5 * 
			 Cyprus 5  
			 Czech republic 25  
			 Djibouti * * 
			 Dominica * * 
			 Dominican Republic * * 
			 Ecuador 5 5 
			 Egypt 55 150 
			 El Salvador * 5 
			 Eritrea *  
			 Ethiopia 5 5 
			 Fiji  * 
			 Gabon  * 
			 Gambia * * 
			 Georgia 20 5 
			 Ghana 15 15 
			 Grenada * * 
			 Guatemala  5 
			 Guinea   
			 Guyana * * 
			 Haiti * * 
			 Honduras 5 5 
			 Hong Kong (British) 10 5 
			 Hong Kong (Chinese) 35 20 
			 Hungary 50  
			 India 17,860 31,090 
			 Indonesia 45 65 
			 Iran 30 40 
			 Iraq * 20 
			 Israel 95 100 
			 Ivory coast  5 
			 Jamaica 10 5 
			 Japan 2,065 2,010 
			 Jordan 15 5 
			 Kazakhstan 70 80 
			 Kenya 40 65 
			 Kosovo  * 
			 Kuwait 5 5 
			 Kyrgyzstan * 5 
			 Laos *  
			 Latvia 5  
			 Lebanon 25 50 
			 Liberia   
			 Libya 15 30 
			 Lithuania *  
			 Macedonia 5 5 
			 Madagascar  * 
			 Malawi 5 * 
			 Malaysia 220 405 
			 Maldives   
			 Mali  5 
			 Malta 10  
			 Mauritius 10 15 
			 Mexico 80 140 
			 Moldova 5 45 
			 Monaco  * 
			 Mongolia   
			 Morocco 15 25 
			 Mozambique * * 
			 Namibia 5 * 
			 Nepal * 15 
			 New Zealand 200 160 
			 Nicaragua   
			 Niger   
			 Nigeria 120 95 
			 North Korea   
			 Oman 5 5 
			 Pakistan 185 240 
			 Palestine * * 
			 Panama 5 5 
			 Papua New Guinea   
			 Paraguay 5  
			 Peru 15 15 
			 Philippines 160 300 
			 Poland 75  
			 Qatar  * 
			 Romania 90 110 
			 Russia 210 350 
			 Rwanda  * 
			 Samoa   
			 Saudi Arabia 25 15 
			 Senegal 5 10 
			 Serbia 10 10 
			 Seychelles *  
			 Sierra Leone *  
			 Singapore 175 185 
			 Slovakia 5  
			 Slovenia 5  
			 Somalia * * 
			 South Africa 625 545 
			 South Korea 275 245 
			 Sri Lanka 60 150 
			 St. Kitts   
			 St. Lucia 5 * 
			 Stateless   
			 Sudan * 5 
			 Surinam  * 
			 Swaziland *  
			 Switzerland   
			 Syria 5 5 
			 Tadzhikistan 5 * 
			 Taiwan 90 105 
			 Tanzania 10 5 
			 Thailand 90 65 
			 Togo * * 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 35 45 
			 Tunisia 10 20 
			 Turkey 215 195 
			 Turkmenistan * 5 
			 Uganda 10 10 
			 Ukraine 40 60 
			 United Arab Emirates 5 5 
			 United states 5,940 6,855 
			 Uruguay 5 10 
			 Uzbekistan 10 20 
			 Venezuela 35 40 
			 Vietnam 10 25 
			 Yemen Republic of   
			 Yugoslavia 5 5 
			 Zaire *  
			 Zambia 5 10 
			 Zimbabwe 55 20 
			 Total 32,770 48,010 
			 * Indicates 1 or 2  Indicates Nil  Notes: 1. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 2. he figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. 3. Figures are rounded to nearest 5.  Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Work Permits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were  (a) applied for by and  (b) granted to persons who were not European Economic Area or Swiss nationals for work in (i) health and medical services, (ii) social care services, (iii) hospitality and catering, (iv) computer services, (v) telecommunications and (vi) financial services in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The following tables show the number of individual work permit applications applied for and approved for persons who were not EEA or Swiss nationals in each of the last 10 years broken down by specific industry sector. Data on social care services has not been provided as we do not collate information under this general sector, only under specific occupations.
	
		
			  Work permit applications applied for and granted between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2008 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 
			  Industry sector  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted 
			 Computer Services 2,130 1,965 17,510 16,640 23,775 22,680 22,115 19,430 19,185 16,810 
			 Financial Services 1,345 1,290 7,890 7,586 8,575 8,195 6,645 6,305 5,960 5,530 
			 Health and Medical Services 3,660 3,430 20,510 19,405 31,995 29,695 42,960 37,270 48,355 42,645 
			 Hospitality: Sectors Based Scheme 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 945 715 
			 Hospitality and Catering 285 210 1,515 1,050 6,325 4,065 13,420 9,800 22,035 14,470 
			 Telecommunications 415 380 2,585 2,455 2,305 2,195 2,665 2,470 1,940 1,770 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Industry sector  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted 
			 Computer Services 23,040 21,070 23,045 21,355 29,050 27,695 33,230 31,130 31,270 29,435 
			 Financial Services 7,515 6,970 8,210 7,615 10,615 10,065 12,045 11,290 10,520 9,880 
			 Health and Medical Services 52,625 46,845 45,390 38,950 36,835 31,085 25,090 18,020 22,310 18,800 
			 Hospitality: Sectors Based Scheme 7,165 4,565 1,795 1,215 755 430 395 145 235 85 
			 Hospitality and Catering 28,990 17,310 19,030 10,606 17,765 10,960 17,895 8,600 15,670 7,710 
			 Telecommunications 1,820 1,595 1,585 1,305 2,790 2,600 4,495 4,190 3,285 3,090 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 2. * Indicates 1 or 2. 3. The industry sectors are not based on the ONS Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 4. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.  Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Work Permits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were  (a) applied for by and  (b) granted to persons who were not EEA or Swiss nationals for (i) sporting activities, (ii) entertainment and leisure services, (iii) training and work experience schemes and (iv) education and cultural activities in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the number of individual work permit applications applied for and granted for persons who were not EEA or Swiss nationals in each of the last 10 years broken down by specific industry sector.
	
		
			  Work permit applications applied for and granted between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2008 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 
			  Industry sector  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted 
			 Education and cultural activities 900 820 5,220 4,825 10,425 9,780 13,280 12,220 12,475 11,075 
			 Entertainment and leisure services 985 910 4,570 4,275 4,925 4,560 5,150 4,610 5,255 4,650 
			 Sporting activities 225 180 1,295 1,085 1,540 1,300 2,080 1,665 1,925 1,605 
			 Training and work experience 1,565 1,260 6,810 5,650 5,565 4,715 5,270 4,185 5,225 3,925 
		
	
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Industry sector  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted  Total applied for  Granted 
			 Education and cultural activities 11,645 10,485 11,065 9,975 11,965 10,745 12,100 10,540 10,695 9,500 
			 Entertainment and leisure services 5,565 4,840 5,610 4,845 5,765 4,980 6,080 5,185 6,255 5,450 
			 Sporting activities 2,225 1,980 2,305 2,115 2,365 2,195 2,895 2,605 3,295 3,060 
			 Training and work experience 4,975 3,885 5,075 3,995 5,555 4,655 5,560 4,530 5,010 4,115 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 2. The industry sectors are not based on the ONS Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). 3. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.  Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Work Permits: Overseas Students

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether post-study work arrangements for international students will remain unchanged for the next academic year.

Phil Woolas: From 31 March the UK Border Agency will no longer award points under the Tier 1 Post-Study route for Postgraduate Diplomas or Postgraduate Certificates other than Postgraduate Certificates of Education. These changes were laid before Parliament on 9 March 2009 in Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 314.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Higher Civil Servants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many senior civil servants his Department employs, broken down by pay band.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has been formed by bringing together work previously covered by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The final details of staff transferring from these departments are yet to be confirmed.
	However, the current indicative numbers for Senior Civil Servants (SCS) are as follows (expressed as Full- Time Equivalents or FTE):
	
		
			  Number 
			 SCS Pay Band 1 53.8 
			 SCS Pay Band 2 14.1 
			 SCS Pay Band 3 4.0 
			 Permanent Secretary 1.0

Electricity Generation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much electricity was distributed through the national grid in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: The specific data requested are not available. However, the following table shows the electricity supplied through the transmission and distribution systems of both Great Britain and Northern Ireland along with electricity produced by companies as part of their manufacturing or other commercial activities. The period covered is 1970 to 2007. Provisional 2008 data on this basis will be published on 26 March 2009.
	
		
			   Electricity supplied (net) GWh (1) 
			 1970 230,136 
			 1971 237,116 
			 1972 243,966 
			 1973 261,756 
			 1974 253,251 
			 1975 252,284 
			 1976 255,978 
			 1977 262,007 
			 1978 267,375 
			 1979 278,738 
			 1980 264,859 
			 1981 258,743 
			 1982 253,811 
			 1983 257,024 
			 1984 261,535 
			 1985 274,427 
			 1986 278,476 
			 1987 279,708 
			 1988 285,711 
			 1989 291,751 
			 1990 297,502 
			 1991 300,654 
			 1992 298,547 
			 1993 301,868 
			 1994 306,936 
			 1995 317,627 
			 1996 332,357 
			 1997 331,629 
			 1998 342,699 
			 1999 347,671 
			 2000 357,266 
			 2001 364,182 
			 2002 366,657 
			 2003 376,528 
			 2004 373,340r 
			 2005 376,735r 
			 2006 374,695 
			 2007 373,299 
			  Source:  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2008, internet only long-term trends annex to Chapter 7.

Electricity Generation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much and what proportion of electricity imported through the international grid originated in each country of origin in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: Provisional data for 2008 show that the UK imported 12.14 TWh of electricity (99 per cent.) through the interconnector with France and 0.15 TWh (1 per cent.) of electricity through the interconnector with the Republic of Ireland. UK suppliers may have contracted with generators in other continental European countries for some of this imported electricity but details of these contracts are not held centrally.

Electricity: Exports

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much electricity the UK exported through the UK grid in each year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Exports of electricity through the interconnectors to France and to the Republic of Ireland in the most recent available years are as follows:
	
		
			   GWh 
			 1996 37 
			 1997 41 
			 1998 131 
			 1999 263 
			 2000 134 
			 2001 264 
			 2002 768 
			 2003 2,959 
			 2004 2,294 
			 2005 2,839 
			 2006 2,765 
			 2007 3,398 
			 2008(1) 1,272 
			 (1 )Figures for 2008 are provisional.  Source:  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2008, Table 5.2.

Energy Supply

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of properties which experienced a loss of power supply  (a) in England and  (b) in Leicester in the last (i) week, (ii) month and (iii) 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The latest audited data from Ofgem are for 2007-08. Each household or meter point experiencing a power cut is counted as one interruption.
	It is not possible to split the data for the areas requested but for Great Britain there were 22,022,045 electricity supply interruptions. On average this will be 423,501 a week and 1,835,170 a month.
	The distribution network operator for Leicester is Central Networks East, which serves 2,576,436 customers across the east midlands. For 2007-08 there were 2,153,411 electricity supply interruptions in its area. On average this will be 41,412 a week and 179,451 a month.

Energy Supply

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of properties which on average have experienced a loss of power supply  (a) nationally and  (b) in Winchester in each (i) week, (ii) month and (iii) year of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 February 2009
	The latest audited data from Ofgem is for 2007-08. Each household or meter point experiencing a power cut is counted as one interruption.
	Averaged over the last five years for Great Britain there were (i) 437,095 electricity supply interruptions each week, (ii) 1,894,079 electricity supply interruptions each month and (iii) 22,728,946 electricity supply interruptions each year.
	The distribution network operator serving Winchester is Southern Electric Power Distribution, which serves 2,876,427 customers across central southern England. Averaged over the last five years for its area there were (i) 46,692 electricity supply interruptions each week, (ii) 202,330 electricity supply interruptions each month and (iii) 2,427,960 electricity supply interruptions each year.

Energy Supply

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the contribution made by renewable energy to UK energy security; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Our assessment of the contribution made by renewable energy to UK energy security was most recently set out in our Renewable Energy Strategy consultation document, which was published in June 2008, and can be accessed at
	www.berr.gov.uk/renewableconsultation
	We are updating this analysis as part of the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy, which we will publish later in spring 2009.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the Government's policy is on hypothecating the receipts from the auctioning of EU Emissions Trading Scheme permits for expenditure on low-carbon energy projects.

Mike O'Brien: Government's spending priorities are not, in general, determined by the way in which the money is raised. Hypothecating revenues to particular spending programmes imparts inflexibility in spending decisions and can lead to a misallocation of resources, with reduced value for money for taxpayers.
	However, the Government recognise the need for investment in low carbon energy and other technologies, and their policy framework is already driving significant activity in this sector, for example, through the renewables obligation and the Environmental Transformation Fund.
	The revised EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) directive, to apply from 2013, does not contain any legally binding requirements on member states to hypothecate auction revenues. The UK Government support this approach.
	In addition to the directive, EU member states have made a non-legally binding commitment to spend at least half of the revenues from auctioning to tackle climate change both in the EU and in developing countries. This will include reducing emissions, adapting to climate change, reducing deforestation and developing renewable technologies. The Government are content with this approach, which we believe will provide a strong signal of the EU's willingness to invest in a low carbon economy and offer support to the international community ahead of negotiations in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

Fuel Poverty

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the groups of vulnerable people that are most likely to be in fuel poverty; and what account is being taken of the needs of cancer patients in considering existing fuel poverty policies and objectives.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 13 March 2009
	The Department monitors the number of vulnerable households that are in fuel poverty. For this purpose, vulnerable households include all households containing children, the elderly or somebody who is sick or disabled.
	In 2006, of 15.2 million vulnerable households in England, 1.9 million (13 per cent.) were fuel poor. The following table gives a detailed breakdown for each vulnerable group and is based on the latest figures available for England, for 2006.
	
		
			   Number of households (thousand)  
			  Household contains at least one person:  Fuel poor  Total  Percentage of households  fuel poor 
			 Child 392 6,310 6 
			 Over 60 1,285 7,539 17 
			 Disabled or long term sick 915 6,198 15 
			  Note: That the sum of the groups do not sum to the total, as some households are in more than one group. 
		
	
	As the majority of fuel-poor households also have the lowest incomes, the Government has taken the approach that the most cost-effective, fair and efficient method of identifying vulnerable householders most likely to be at risk of fuel poverty is through the receipt of benefits (primarily means tested).
	The Government recognise that not all cancer patients will necessarily be fuel poor or entitled to receive assistance aimed at those most vulnerable to fuel poverty. However, where those cancer patients are in receipt of benefitswhether income or pension relatedwith children under 16 or on disability living allowance, this will qualify them for additional heating and energy efficiency help under the Warm Front Scheme, for example.
	Any household can qualify for subsidised energy saving measures from their energy supplier under the carbon emissions reduction target.
	Older people are targeted as they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold weather during the winter months and of course the winter fuel payment helps older people with cancer to pay their fuel bills. This year the payment is 250 to over 60s and 400 to over 80s.

Fuel Poverty: Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what data his Department collects on fuel poverty; how frequently such data are collected; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Department publishes data on fuel poverty annually. The data used to calculate fuel poverty estimates for England come from the English House Condition Survey (EHCS), compiled by the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), and energy price information, published by DECC. The EHCS collects data on features of each dwelling, including fuel sources and efficiency measures, which enable energy required to achieve the adequate standard of warmth to be derived.
	The EHCS also collects information on householders, such as their income. Combining required energy consumption with prices and incomes, each dwelling covered in the survey is classified as either fuel poor or not, and the results aggregated to produce data for the whole of England. The EHCS additionally contains a range of other data that allow DECC to split fuel poverty by various other measures, for example, age of householders, type of dwelling, etc.

National Grid

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which power stations of over 50 MW capacity are connected to the national grid in each  (a) Government Office region,  (b) local authority area and  (c) constituency.

Mike O'Brien: Details of UK power stations together with their capacity and region are published under section 5.11 of the Digest of United Kingdom energy statistics (DUKES) available at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page45537.html
	A list of power stations of over 50 MW capacity, together with the Government office region, local authority area and constituency in which each are located, is annexed.

Natural Gas: Storage

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the Government will publish a national policy statement for gas storage.

Mike O'Brien: We are preparing a national policy statement on gas storage and gas supply infrastructure. There will be a suite of national policy statements covering the energy sector. The NPSs are important documents, and it is essential that they are fit for purpose and give the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) clear guidance on how to take decisions. The gas supply infrastructure NPS is one of the NPSs to be published in draft in the summer for public consultation and then designated in early 2010.

Nuclear Power Stations

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which existing nuclear power stations he expects to be generating electricity at the end of  (a) 2015,  (b) 2016,  (c) 2017,  (d) 2018 and  (e) 2019.

Mike O'Brien: There are currently 10 nuclear power stations in operation across England, Scotland and Wales, providing around 16 per cent. of the electricity generated in the UK. In 10 years time, we expect three of these stations, with nearly 3.7 GW of capacity, still to be open.
	Projected closure dates for the UK's nuclear power stations that are expected to be generating electricity between 2015-19 and beyond are as follows:
	
		
			  Station  Owner  Projected closure date 
			 Hinkley Point B EDF Energy 2016 
			 Hunterston B EDF Energy 2016 
			 Dungeness EDF Energy 2018 
			 Heysham 2 EDF Energy 2023 
			 Torness EDF Energy 2023 
			 Sizewell B EDF Energy 2035

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many he expects to be decommissioned in each of the next 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: Current operational nuclear power stations owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and British Energy will be at various stages of decommissioning within the next 10 years, although none will have been completely decommissioned.
	The current scheduled closure dates of operational nuclear power stations, at which point they enter their decommissioning phase, are as follows:
	
		
			  Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 
			   Year 
			 Wylfa 2010 
			 Oldbury current extension to 2009 
		
	
	
		
			  British Energy 
			   Year 
			 Hartlepool 2014 
			 Heysham 1 2014 
			 HinkleyB 2016 
			 HunterstonB 2016 
			 Dungeness B 2018 
		
	
	The following Magnox stations have already entered their decommissioning phase (with dates of generation in brackets).
	Berkeley (1962 to 1989)
	Bradwell (1962 to 2002)
	Calder Hall (1956 to 2003)
	Chapelcross (1959 to 2004)
	Dungeness A (1965 to 2006)
	Hinkley Point A (1965 to 2000)
	Hunterston A (1964 to 1989)
	Sizewell A (1966 to 2006)
	Trawsfynydd (1965 to 1991).

Nuclear Power: Decommissioning

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate of the cost of nuclear clean-up is.

Mike O'Brien: The latest estimate of the lifetime cost of dealing with the nuclear legacy is set out in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's 2007-08 annual report and accounts. The total discounted estimate is 44.1 billion (comprising 40.7 billion for its core mission at 19 legacy sites; and a further 3.4 billion for the construction and lifetime costs of a deep geological disposal facility). These are the total lifetime cost based on a plan that takes a hundred years or more to complete.

Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the reasons are for the disbanding of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee.

Mike O'Brien: The Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee is one of several advisory committees that advise the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It reached the end of its latest term of office in October 2008. The HSE Board decided to defer any decisions on reconstituting the committee pending the outcome of various reviews. This included taking account of the recommendations of Dr. Tim Stone's review of nuclear regulatory arrangements, which were published in January 2009.
	One of Dr. Stone's recommendations accepted by the Government was to restructure the HSE's Nuclear Directorate through legislation. The future make-up of any advisory body needs to follow decisions on these arrangements.

Power Failures

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) planned and  (b) unplanned power cuts there have been in (i) Stroud constituency, (ii) Gloucestershire and (iii) England in each of the last five years; what the average number of power cuts in each county in England was in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for power interruptions are collected for each distribution service area, not by constituency or county. Each household or meter point experiencing a power cut is counted as one interruption.
	In the Central Networks West distribution area (which covers the counties of the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire) there have been in the region of 13.9 million unplanned interruptions in the last five years.
	In the same area during the same five year period there were in the region of 760,000 planned interruptions.
	It is not possible to provide accurate figures for England only, as one distribution service area overlaps England and Wales. However, in England and Wales there were in the region of 96 million unplanned interruptions in the last five years and 4.9 million planned interruptions.

Power Failures: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) planned and  (b) unplanned power cuts there have been in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for power interruptions are collected for each distribution service area, not by town or county. Each household or meter point experiencing a power cut is counted as one interruption.
	Hemel Hempstead and Hertfordshire are in EDF Energy Networks' EPN distribution service area. There have been in the region of 13 million unplanned interruptions and 580,000 planned interruptions in EDF Energy Networks' EPN area in the last five years.

Power Stations: Combined Heat and Power

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many combined heat and power stations there are in the UK.

Mike O'Brien: At the end of 2007, the latest date for which information is available, there were 1,438 combined heat and power stations in the UK.

Renewable Energy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of renewable energy generated in the UK was generated in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Mike O'Brien: The most recently available data are for 2007. Of the 19,668 GWh of electricity generated from renewable sources, 49 per cent. was generated in England, 42 per cent. in Scotland, 7 per cent. in Wales and 2 per cent. in Northern Ireland.

Renewable Energy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what amount of energy from each type of renewable source was generated  (a) in North Wales, including offshore and  (b) in each English region, in each year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Information on electricity generated in North Wales and for each region of England is not available. This is because at regional level such information would disclose data for individual generating companies.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to require a buffer zone of two kilometres between a wind turbine and the nearest inhabited dwelling for any new planning application; and if he will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 May 2008, given to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald),  Official Report, column 1637W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 581-2W, on 10 Downing Street, if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of the retail prices for each item of merchandise.

Kevin Brennan: The merchandise products listed are unsubsidised and are available for staff to purchase on a not-for-profit basis. Current prices range from 0.40 for a card to 49.44 for the No. 10 door model.

Catz Club

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2008,  Official Report, column 835W, on Futurebuilders: Catz Club, on what date the decision was taken to write off the funding given to Catz Club.

Liam Byrne: The decision to write off the funding given to Catz Club was recommended by the Futurebuilders England Ltd. Investment Committee on 5 February 2008 and confirmed by the Futurebuilders England Board on 19 March 2008.

Civil Servants

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants there were in each Government department on  (a) 1 November 2008 and  (b) the latest date for which information is available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many civil servants there were in each government department on (a) 1 November 2008 and (b) the latest date for which information is available. (263146)
	Estimates of employment for the home civil service are taken from the Civil Service element of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES). Data for the survey is collected on a quarterly basis; the latest date for which information is available is September 2008 (Annex A).
	Updated estimates of the number of civil servants in each government department will be published on 18 March 2009 and will be available on-line:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/Table6AllDepts.xls
	
		
			  Annex ACivil service employment by Department( 1) , Quarter 3 2008 
			   Headcount 
			  Attorney General's departments  
			 Crown Prosecution Service 8,770 
			 Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 50 
			 Attorney General's Office 40 
			 Serious Fraud Office 320 
			 Treasury Solicitor 810 
			 Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office 350 
			   
			  Cabinet Office  
			 Cabinet Office excl agencies 1,250 
			   
			  Other Cabinet Office agencies  
			 Central Office of Information 770 
			 National School of Government 250 
			 Parliamentary Counsel Office 80 
			   
			  HM Treasury  
			 HM Treasury 1,200 
			   
			  Chancellor's other departments  
			 Debt Management Office 80 
			 Government Actuary's Department 110 
			 National Savings and Investments 150 
			 Office of Government Commerce 250 
			 OGC Buying Solutions 270 
			 Office for National Statistics(2) 0 
			 Royal Mint 810 
			   
			  UK Statistics Authority  
			 UK Statistics Authority(2,)( )(3,)( )(4) 3,830 
			   
			  Charity Commission  
			 Charity Commission 490 
			   
			  Communities and Local Government  
			 Department for Communities and Local Government 2,840 
			 Fire Service College 240 
			 Ordnance Survey 1,420 
			 Planning Inspectorate 880 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 50 
			   
			  Culture, Media and Sport  
			 Department for Culture Media and Sport 470 
			 Royal Parks 100 
			   
			  Defence  
			 Ministry of Defence 69,430 
			 Defence Support Group 3,280 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory 3,510 
			 Meteorological Office 1,830 
			 UK Hydrographic Office 1,020 
			   
			  Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills  
			 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills 840 
			 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 50 
			 UK Intellectual Property Office 1,040 
			   
			  Department for Children, Schools and Families  
			 Department for Children, Schools and Families 3,230 
			   
			  Ofsted  
			 Ofsted 2,620 
			   
			  Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  
			 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 3,100 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 570 
			 Central Science Laboratory 650 
			 Government Decontamination Services 30 
			 Marine Fisheries Agency 190 
			 Ofwat 210 
			 Rural Payments Agency 3,530 
			 State Veterinary Service 1,660 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 1,250 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 140 
			   
			  Export Credits Guarantee Department  
			 Export Credit Guarantee Department 210 
			   
			  Foreign and Commonwealth Office  
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (excl agencies) 5,860 
			 Wilton Park Executive Agency 80 
			   
			  Health  
			 Department of Health (excl agencies) 2,260 
			 Food Standards Agency 790 
			 Meat Hygiene Service 1,100 
			 Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 900 
			 National Healthcare Purchasing and Supplies 270 
			 NHS Business Services Authority 240 
			   
			  HM Revenue and Customs  
			 HM Revenue and Customs 88,230 
			 Valuation Office 4,100 
			   
			  Home Office  
			 Home Office (excl agencies) 2,530 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 540 
			 Identity and Passport Service(3) 4,580 
			 UK Border Agency 18,660 
			 Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism 260 
			   
			  International Development  
			 Department for International Development 1,640 
			   
			  Justice  
			 Ministry of Justice (excl agencies) 3,450 
			 HM Courts Service 21,530 
			 Land Registry 8,020 
			 National Archives 630 
			 Public Guardianship Office 330 
			 Tribunals Service 3,000 
			 Scotland Office 100 
			 Wales Office 60 
			 Public Sector Prison Service 51,620 
			   
			  Northern Ireland Office  
			 Northern Ireland Office 130 
			   
			  Security and Intelligence Services  
			 Security and Intelligence Services 5,520 
			   
			  Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform  
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 3,610 
			 Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service 830 
			 Companies House 1,180 
			 Insolvency Service 2,550 
			 Office of Fair Trading 610 
			 Office of Gas and Electricity Market 310 
			 Postal Services Commission 60 
			   
			  Transport  
			 Department for Transport 2,080 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 6,790 
			 Driving Standards Agency 2,740 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 310 
			 Highways Agency 3,530 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1,150 
			 Office of Rail Regulation 350 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 140 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 2,660 
			   
			  Work and Pensions  
			 DWP Corporate and Shared Services 11,500 
			 Child Support Agency 10,570 
			 Job Centre Plus 74,870 
			 Pensions and Disability Carers Service 17,550 
			 The Health and Safety Executive 3,840 
			 The Rent Service 500 
			   
			  Scottish government  
			 Scottish government (excl agencies) 4,990 
			 Scottish Housing Regulator 60 
			 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service 1,710 
			 Courts Group 30 
			 Fisheries Research Services 330 
			 General Register Scotland 310 
			 HM Inspectorate of Education 210 
			 Historic Scotland 1,060 
			 National Archive for Scotland 160 
			 Office of Accountant in Bankruptcy 120 
			 Registers of Scotland 1,430 
			 Scottish Court Service 1,410 
			 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency 310 
			 Scottish Prison Service Headquarters 4,020 
			 Scottish Public Pensions Agency 240 
			 Social Work Inspection Agency 50 
			 Student Awards Agency 150 
			 Transport Scotland 290 
			 Office for the Scottish Charity Regulator 50 
			 Mental Health Tribunal Scotland 80 
			 Welsh Assembly  
			 Welsh Assembly Government 6,070 
			 ESTYN 100 
			   
			 Total employment 521,560 
			 (1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, and numbers less than five are represented by ... (2) The UK Statistics Authority (the Authority) was established on 1 April 2008, when the 'Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007' came into effect. One of the functions of the Authority is to oversee the Office for National Statistics (ONS)its executive office. (3) On 1 April 2008 employees of the General Register Office were transferred from the UK Statistics Authority to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). (4) As of 1 April 2008, Field Interviewers are now classified as civil servants and are included as UK Statistics Authority employees.  Notes: 1. The Disability and Carers Service and the Pension Service are now called the Pension, Disability and Carers Service. 2. Communities Scotland, Scottish Agricultural Science Agency and Scottish Building Standards Agency were abolished on 1 April 2008. Staff moved into the Scottish government. 3. Scottish Housing Regulator was setup on 1 April 2008.  Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey

Community Resilience Fund

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the procedures are for charities and other voluntary organisations operating in Oxfordshire to access the Community Resilience Fund.

Kevin Brennan: The Community Resilience Fund was announced in Real Help for Communities: charities, volunteers and social enterprises, an action plan of targeted support to the sector.
	The Community Resilience Fund will be targeted only in areas identified as at risk of increased deprivation as a result of the recession.
	Officials in the Office of the Third Sector are working with other Government Departments and stakeholders to develop the programme and will be able to make further announcements in the coming weeks. Further information will be posted on our website in due course, please refer to:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which banks the Cabinet Office has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Kevin Brennan: To date, the Cabinet Office has not let any contracts with banks for the provision of financial advice in the financial year 2008-09. Full details will not be available until the Cabinet Office accounts have been audited and laid before Parliament, expected to be shortly before the summer recess.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what private sector support has been provided to his Department's Real Help Now website.

Liam Byrne: The Real Help Now website brings together information about the range of support available during the economic downturn and makes it easier for people and businesses to access that support.
	No private-sector support has been provided to the website. A private-sector contractor was engaged under standard Cabinet Office procurement arrangements to assist in the technical development of the website.

Employment: Disabled

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people registered as disabled have been employed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) south Tyneside,  (c) the north-east and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 13 March 2009
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people registered as disabled have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. (263812)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles estimates of unemployment from sources in which limiting health problems are recorded, rather than whether or not people are registered as disabled. Table 1 shows the estimated number of people who had a limiting health problem lasting more than 12 months and who were unemployed. Estimates are available for the 12 month period ending February 2001 onwards. They are derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Sample sizes for Jarrow and South Tyneside are too small to calculate reliable estimates.
	Estimates for the United Kingdom as a whole are not available prior to the 12 month period ending February 2004. Estimates for Great Britain have therefore also been provided.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population, and some are for small geographical areas, they are all based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in Table 1.
	
		
			  Number of unemployed disabled persons( 1)  resident in Jarrow, South Tyneside, North East, Great Britain and United Kingdom, 2000-08 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending  North East  Great Britain  United Kingdom 
			 February 2001 23 339 (2) 
			 February 2002 17 299 (2) 
			 February 2003 14 278 (2) 
			 February 2004 16 289 296 
			 March 2005 13 252 260 
			 March 2006 18 299 305 
			 March 2007 17 305 311 
			 March 2008 16 321 328 
			 June 2008(3) ***19 *327 *333 
			 (1) Persons age 16+ who have health problems lasting more than 12 months. (2) Figures are disclosive or statistically unreliable. (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CVfor example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%)  Statistical Robustness * 0 [le] CV5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 [le] CV 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 [le] CV 20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source: Annual Population Survey and Annual Labour Force Survey

Population

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the UK population is expected to reach  (a) 61 million and  (b) 71 million.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking when the UK population is expected to reach (a) 61 million and (b) 71 million. (263739)
	The most recent national population projections, based on the population at the middle of 2006, were published by the Office for National Statistics on 23 October 2007. The main, or principal, projections are based on the best assumptions available at the time of future expected levels of migration, fertility and mortality.
	The population of the UK was projected to have reached 61 million by the middle of 2008, and it is projected to reach 71 million in 2031.

Population

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008 to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead,  Official Report, column 504W, on population, what the latest population projections for the UK for  (a) 2031,  (b) 2056 and  (c) 2081 are.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question making reference to the answer of 5 November 2008 to the Right Hon. Member for Birkenhead (Official Report, column 504w, on population) and asking for the latest population projections for the UK for (a) 2031, (b) 2056 and (c) 2081.
	The most recent national population projections, based on the population at the middle of 2006, were published by the Office for National Statistics on 23 October 2007. The main, or principal, projections are based on the best assumptions available at the time of future expected levels of migration, fertility and mortality.
	The table below gives the projected UK population under the principal projections for the three years requested.
	
		
			  Total projected population of the UK 2006-based principal population projections 
			   M illion 
			 2031 71.1 
			 2056 78.6 
			 2081 85.3 
		
	
	The next set of national population projections will be based at the middle of 2008 and are due for publication by the Office for National Statistics in autumn 2009.

Social Enterprises

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the Cabinet Office's definition of a social  (a) enterprise and  (b) entrepreneur is.

Kevin Brennan: A social enterprise is defined as
	A business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.
	This definition was developed and agreed with the sector. It was published in the Government's first Social Enterprise Strategy (Social Enterprise: A Strategy for Success (2002) and reiterated in the Social Enterprise Action Plan: Scaling New Heights (November 2006). Both are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The School for Social Entrepreneurs defines a social entrepreneur as
	someone who works in an entrepreneurial manner, but for public or social benefit, rather than to make money.

Social Enterprises

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements the Cabinet Office has put in place for people in Oxfordshire to access the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Kevin Brennan: In Real Help for Communities, the Office of the Third Sector announced a 0.5 million investment in the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in 2009-10 to enable them to increase their capacity and double the number of social entrepreneurs that it supports.
	This will enable SSE to open new schools in two English regions where they currently have no working presence, one of which is the south-east. The new south-east school will open its inaugural programme later this year and will provide social entrepreneurs from across the region, including Oxfordshire, with support to enable them to successfully establish or grow community enterprises.
	Social entrepreneurs from Oxfordshire will be able to apply to the new school in the south-east as well as to schools in other regions. There are no paper qualifications necessary for entry to SSE programmes as places are offered on the basis of an individual's entrepreneurial qualities and their engagement with the community they are aiming to serve.

V

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what ways the charity v promotes new volunteering opportunities for young people in Oxfordshire; and what arrangements are in place for young people in Oxfordshire to access such volunteering opportunities.

Kevin Brennan: v promotes new volunteering opportunities for young people and has invested over 1.5 million to support local Oxfordshire based projects in particular to create appealing local volunteering opportunities.
	v has put in place a network of vinvolved teams across England to create new volunteering opportunities and support young people to find volunteering placements that match their passions and interests. In Oxfordshire the vinvolved team is hosted by the Oxfordshire Children and Voluntary Youth Service and expects to create around 7,000 new opportunities by 2011.
	v's full-time volunteering programme, vtalent year offers 44 week long volunteering placements in Children's and Young People's Services of local authorities. In Oxfordshire the scheme is being piloted by Oxfordshire county council and will provide around 30 placements over two years starting in March this year.
	Through v's youth fund vcashpoint, in partnership with HSBC, young people in Oxfordshire and elsewhere can apply directly for funds of up to 2,500 to set up their own community project.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements the Cabinet Office has made for charities and other voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire to access the Futurebuilders Fund in order to enhance their capacity.

Kevin Brennan: Futurebuilders is a fund open to third sector organisations in all areas of England looking to build their capacity in order to bid for and win public service delivery contracts. A third-sector organisation can access the fund provided it meets the criteria of the Futurebuilders Programme.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements the Cabinet Office has put in place for charities and other voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire to access grants and endowments through its grants programme.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office delivers grassroots grants through the Community Development Foundation (CDF).
	CDF has appointed a local grant administrator in each top tier local authority area in the country to award grants and raise endowments. In Oxfordshire the local funder is Oxfordshire Community Foundation.
	Through Oxfordshire Community Foundation, up to 1.5 million will be invested in Oxfordshire over the course of the three year programme. This includes the 622,500 available through the endowment element, whereby Government will match up to this value on donations raised by local private individuals and businesses.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Accountancy: Cartels

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what statutory powers he has to investigate cartels operated by accounting firms.

Gareth Thomas: Anti-competitive conduct such as cartel activity is prohibited by both UK and European competition law. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is the UK's competition regulator responsible for promoting effective competition and enforcing competition law. Anyone with concerns about possible cartel activity in any sector of the economy should submit the details to the OFT who have the relevant powers to take action as appropriate.

Competition: Tribunals

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the confidential dossier drawn up by his Department making the case for waiving competition law submitted in evidence to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the December 2008 hearing of the case of Merger Action Group v. Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform still exists in  (a) electronic and  (b) paper form.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 6 March 2009
	The information relevant to my noble Friend, the Secretary of State's decision of 31 October on the proposed merger between HBOS and Lloyds TSB still exists in both paper and electronic form. The great majority of that information has been published in accordance with the requirements of the Enterprise Act 2002. However, some information has not been published. This is in accordance with the provisions contained in Part 9 of the Enterprise Act which reflects the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable):
	any information whose disclosure the authority thinks is contrary to the public interest;
	commercial information whose disclosure the authority thinks might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates;
	information relating to the private affairs of an individual whose disclosure the authority thinks might significantly harm the individual's interests.

Consumers: Safety

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many consumer products were withdrawn from sale for health and safety reasons in 2008.

Gareth Thomas: These figures are not collected by central Government. However during 2008 127 consumer products were notified by the UK under RAPEX, (the EU rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products, with the exception of food, pharmaceutical and medical devices), which is operated under the Directive on General Product Safety (2001/95/EC).

Financial Services: Electoral Register

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will commission research into the impact on the credit services and debt collection industry of the combined effect of the proposed abolition of the edited electoral roll and the implementation of the Consumer Credit Act 2006.

Gareth Thomas: In line with the commitments made during the passage of the Consumer Credit Act 2006, the Government will review the Act after it has been in force for three years.
	The Government are committed to holding a public consultation to establish how removing the provisions that govern the edited register would impact not just on individuals but the economy as a whole. This will enable the Government to build a firmer evidence base about the advantages and disadvantages of the edited register and consider the way forward on the basis of the responses to the consultation. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the edited register and its Ministers will make a decision in due course on when the public consultation should take place.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 230W, on home information packs, what information the Office of Fair Trading holds on the number of penalty charge notices issued for breach of home information pack duties.

Gareth Thomas: The enforcing authorities in respect of the HIPS provisions are local weights and measures authorities, typically trading standards services. The OFT is not an enforcer and has no powers under the Act. The OFT cannot direct local authorities as to the priority they give or level of enforcement activity they take in relation to compliance with the HIP provisions. However, the Act requires that where a penalty charge notice (PCN) is issued the local authority informs the OFT. This is because the OFT has a duty, as the national regulator for estate agents, to consider the fitness of a person to be allowed to work as an estate agent and to take appropriate action, including warning or banning an agent, where their conduct falls short of legal requirements. The OFT would consider the receipt of a PCN as part of that process and a trigger to consider fitness under the Estate Agents Act 1979.

Retail Trade: Government Assistance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to assist owners of small retail outlets.

Patrick McFadden: Small retailers are in the same position as any other small business in terms of access to the generic support on offer to small businesses. A package of support to small businesses worth l billion in tax cuts and 2 billion of loan guarantees was announced in the pre-Budget report 2008. Building on this, a number of measures to provide real help for business were launched in January 2009, including schemes to improve access to finance, help with cashflow and provide additional support for training.
	We have improved small businesses' experiences of Government through Business Link and by establishing businesslink.gov.uka one-stop shop of online advice on how to start and grow a business. This has made it easier for businesses to access information on regulation, best practice, and financial support.
	We are providing more help for small businesses to weather current conditions through advice and support services. For example, Business Linkwith over 910,000 customers alreadyhas to date (5 March 2009) carried out nearly 32,000 free health checks for businesses since October 2008, offering hands on advice to help identify problems early and survive in the current financial climate. Some 13 per cent. of these businesses were in the wholesale and retail sector.

Street Trading: Penalty Notices

Julian Brazier: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to give local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices for illegal street traders.

Gareth Thomas: The Department intends to consult shortly on possible amendments to the current street trading regime. This consultation demonstrates the Government's commitment to presenting options for change following the publication on 10 February of research into street trading and pedlary commissioned from Durham university.
	We are also considering whether local authorities should be given access to new powers available under Part 3 of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, which could allow them to impose civil sanctions (including fixed monetary penalties) for certain offences committed under street trading legislation.

Trade: Channel Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had on trade between the UK and the Channel Islands.

Gareth Thomas: I have had no recent discussions regarding trade between the UK and the Channel Islands.

JUSTICE

Departmental Legislation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 785W, on departmental legislation, if he will update the information placed in the Library to include new offences created in 2008.

Maria Eagle: The information that the hon. Member requests goes across a number of Departments and both primary and secondary legislation. There are no immediate plans to update the information to include new offences created in 2008.

Departmental Translation Services

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead of 25 February 2009,  Official Report, column 839W, on departmental translation services, what the cost for language translators and interpreters is for  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice cannot provide the total cost for language translators and interpreters for each of the last five years, as this information is not centrally collated and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	However, figures are available for the 2007-08 financial year for some parts of the business:
	
		
			   
			   Translators  Interpreters 
			 MOJ HQ 272,877 (1)4,034,000 
			 HMCS 200,000  
			 OCJR 448 0 
			 NOMS 8,906 32,000 
			 (1) This figure is the total cost for interpreters' services in Her Majesty's Crown court in 2007-08. This is paid from the central funds budget. 
		
	
	There are no central records on expenditure in magistrates courts. This can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Tribunals are unable to differentiate between the cost of translators and interpreters. The total cost of those services in 2007-08 was 6,058,000. This figure includes services for people with visual and hearing impairments and travel expenses.
	Information for Her Majesty's Prison Service and the Probation Service is not held centrally and is available only at a disproportionate cost. I have asked for immediate work to be undertaken to improve the data that should be available to my Ministry and to Parliament, in this subject area.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits that  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) his Department's senior officials undertook in 2008.

Jack Straw: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 102WS and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	In respect of senior officials (taken to mean members of the senior civil service), details of foreign travel is not collated centrally as separate reporting of these details is not a requirement, and as such details could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost.
	All travel undertaken by all Ministry of Justice staff members, both SCS and non-SCS, is undertaken in line with the published rules for official travel within the staff handbook. The rules are in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Management Code.
	Included in the following table are details of the official visits undertaken in 2008 by Ministers at the Ministry of Justice, as well as details of the officials accompanying Ministers during these visits:
	
		
			  Minister  Date (2008)  Destination and purpose of visit  Number of accompanying officials  Total cost of travel and accommodation () 
			 The right hon. Jack Straw MP 12 to 16 February Visit to the United States of America (Washington/ Virginia/New York) for a range of bi-lateral and public engagements 4 x officials 1 x spouse 22.819.70 
			  5 to 6 June Visit to Luxemburg for Justice and Home Affairs Council 3 x officials 4,474.48 
			  10 to 17 September Visit to Vietnam and India for a range of bilateral and public engagements 4 x officials 1 x spouse 25,858.59 
			  24 October Visit with Lord Bach to Luxemburg for Justice and Home Affairs Council 3 x officials 1,599.75 
			  
			 The right hon. David Hanson MP 14 January Visit to prison ships, Rotterdam, Holland 3 x officials 1,138.30 
			  22 to 24 April Visit to large prison complex, Abuja, Nigeria 1 x official 4,551.00 
			  4 to 5 November Visit to Launch Bulgarian NOMS Twinning Project and Bulgarian prison/probation area, Sofia, Bulgaria 1 x official 1,390.10 
			  
			 The right hon. Michael Wills MP 9 to 10 April Visit to Geneva for the UN Examinations on Human Rights 4 x officials 2,143.73 
			 Lord Bach 27 November Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels 1 x official 409.32 
			  
			 Maria Eagle MP Maria Eagle MP did not undertake any foreign travel in a ministerial capacity during the period in question. 
			   
			 Shahid Malik MP Shahid Malik MP has not undertaken any foreign travel in a ministerial capacity since accepting the ministerial position at the MoJ in October 2008. 
			   
			 Lord Hunt Lord Hunt did not undertake any foreign travel in a ministerial capacity during 2008, prior to leaving in October. 
			   
			 Bridget Prentice MP 4 February Visit to Berlin to meet with the German Justice Minister 1 x official 777.00 
			  4 to 9 May Visit to India to liberalise further legal services 1 x official 10,083.00 
			  7 to 8 July Visit to Nice for Justice and Home Affairs Council 1 x official 1,953.40 
			  24-25 July Visit to Brussels for Justice and Home Affairs Council 1 x official 1,028.56

Fraud: Credit

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted of credit fraud in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: There is no specific offence of 'credit fraud', but persons involved in fraudulent activity may have been prosecuted under various sections of the 1968 and 1978 Theft Acts and the 2006 Fraud Act. Data covering offences under the relevant sections of these acts for the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts in England and Wales 2003 to 2007 are shown in the following table. The Criminal Statistics data for 2008 are due to be published in November 2009.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates  courts and found guilty at all courts for selected offences relating to fraud, England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Proceeded against 13,733 11,882 10,182 8,171 8,515 
			 Found guilty 10,018 9,072 8,001 6,484 6,539 
			 (1 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description: Theft Act 1968 sec 15. Obtaining property by deception. Theft Act 1968 sec 15A as added by Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 s.1. Obtaining a money transfer by deception. Theft Act 1968 sec 16 (1)(2)(b) and (c). Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception (except railway frauds). Theft Act 1978 secs 1 and 2. Railway Frauds. Theft Act 1978 sec 1. Obtaining services by deception (except railway frauds). Theft Act 1978 sec 2. Evasion of liability by deception (except railway frauds). Fraud Act 2006 s.1(2a)(3)(4), 2(1a)(b ) Dishonestly makes a false representation to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk. Fraud Act 2006 s.1(2a)(3)(4), 3(1a)(b) Dishonestly fails to disclose information to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk. Fraud Act 2006 s.6 Possession etc. of articles for use in frauds Fraud Act 2006 s.7 Make, adapt, supply or offer to supply any article knowing that it is designed or adapted for use in the course of or in connection with fraud, or intending it to be used to commit or facilitate fraud Fraud Act 2006 s. 11 By any dishonest act obtains services for which payment is required, with intent to avoid payment this includes 'Attaching a decoder to her television to enable viewing access to cable-satellite television channels for which she has no intention of paying'  Source: Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

House of Lords: Reform

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Government plans to provide for the representation of  (a) the Church of England and  (b) other faith organisations within the House of Lords when it is reformed.

Jack Straw: In the 2008 White Paper on Lords reform, the Government confirmed that in a wholly elected second chamber there would be no reserved seats for Church of England Bishops or for any other group. However, the position of the Church of England is that of the Church by law established, with the Sovereign as its Supreme Governor. The presence of Bishops in the House of Lords reflects the relationship between Crown, Parliament and the Church. The Government propose, therefore, that if there is to be an appointed element in a reformed second chamber, then there should be a number of seats reserved for Church of England Bishops.
	The White Paper also proposed that the Appointments Commission should encourage applications from church and faith leaders as it likely that many would be strong candidates for appointment. The Government sought views on whether the Commission should be given a specific remit to provide for representation of faith groups, in its appointment processes.

Offenders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have entered the criminal justice system for the first time in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Figures for the number of offenders receiving, for the first time, a caution or conviction in each year from 2000 and 2007, are shown in the table. These figures cover offenders of all ages who were recorded by police forces in England and Wales on the Police National Computer (PNC).
	
		
			  Number of persons cautioned( 1)  or convicted with no previously recorded cautions or convictions, as recorded by the police on the Police National Computer( 2) , 2000-07, England and Wales 
			   Number of persons 
			 2000 272,000 
			 2001 272,000 
			 2002 270,000 
			 2003 282,000 
			 2004 289,000 
			 2005 316,000 
			 2006 329,000 
			 2007 327,000 
			 (1) Including reprimands and final warnings for juveniles.  (2) Excludes some summary offences and also some offences prosecuted by authorities other than the police. 
		
	
	The performance of the criminal justice system has improved significantly in recent years. The number of offences brought to justice has increased by 42 per cent. since 2001-02, from just over 1 million offences brought to justice in 2001-02 to 1.43 million in the year to June 2008.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures are presented from 2000 onwards; the PNC data held by the Ministry of Justice from before 2000 is not considered sufficiently complete for use in the answer.

PA Consulting Group

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been paid to the PA Consulting Group for advice on prison reform in each year since the PA Consulting Group was first commissioned.

Shahid Malik: The information requested is not readily available due to the fact there is no centralised contracting team in the Ministry of Justice. To obtain it would therefore incur disproportionate cost.

Parenting Orders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many parenting orders have been issued in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of the provision of relevant parenting classes and other supportive activities during each year.

David Hanson: In 2007-08, 1,649 parenting orders were recorded by youth offending teams. These were mostly for parents of a child aged 10 to 17 years who was convicted of an offence. The number of parenting orders recorded has increased slightly from the previous year, when there were 1,507. In 2005-06 a total of 1,505 parenting orders were recorded.
	More detail on parenting orders issued, including a breakdown of the different types, is available from the Youth Justice Annual Workload Data 2007-08, published by the Youth Justice Board (p29).
	The amount spent on these parenting interventions and other supportive activities is dependent on local priority, and data are not collected centrally.

Prison Sentences

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people  (a) under the age of 17 and  (b) aged 17 to 21 years have received a custodial sentence in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	The proportion of under-18s sentenced to custodyin comparison with all under-18 disposals (court and pre-court)has fallen in recent years from 4 per cent. to 3 per cent. That reflects a greater use of out-of-court disposals (according to the 2005-06 Youth Justice Board annual statistics).
	
		
			  Number of offenders aged under 17 and 17 to 21 given custodial sentences 2003-07 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Immediate custody  
			 Aged under 17 3,438 3,472 3,347 3,477 3,220 
			 Aged 17 to 21 24,017 22,925 21,684 21,101 21,381 
			 Total 27,455 26,397 25,031 24,578 24,601 
			   
			   
			  Suspended sentence  
			 Aged under 17 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Aged 17 to 21 103 93 1,036 5,925 7,198 
			 Total 103 93 1,036 5,925 7,198 
			 n/a = not applicable  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Racial Harassment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1216W, on prisoners: racial harassment, what steps he has taken to reduce the number of the incidents of alleged racism; and how many such incidents took place in each year from 1995 to 2007.

Shahid Malik: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is committed to eradicating all forms of racism. The recently published 'Race Review 2008', which is available in the library of the House, sets out the current assessment of race equality in the Prison Service and recognises that there has been considerable success in moving towards the elimination of more blatant forms of racism.
	Among the ways in which this has been achieved is by making racist incident report forms (RIRFs) more accessible, we have also introduced a level of confidentiality, and improved confidence through increased external scrutiny of the reporting process locally.
	This has resulted in an increase in the number of reported incidents. While all reported incidents are taken seriously, few consist of serious allegations of misconduct by staff, and all such matters are subject to disciplinary investigation under the code of conduct and discipline.
	The following table presents the number of incidents of alleged racism reported by prisoners from 2004-05 to the presentprior to this there was no central record. The table distinguishes between reports about the behaviour of other prisoners and those concerning service provision or the actions of members of staff.
	
		
			   Total  Prisoner behaviour  Services/actions of staff 
			 2004-05 5,641 2,268 3,373 
			 2005-06 6,912 2,719 4,193 
			 2006-07 7,569 2,993 4,576 
			 2007-08 8,051 2,758 5,293 
			 2008-09(1) 6,862 2,186 4,676 
			 (1 )Figures for 1 April to 31 December 2008

Prisoners: Self-harm

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many incidents of self-harm by prisoners have  (a) been reported and  (b) required hospital treatment in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many incidents of self-harm in each young offender institution by  (a) juvenile prisoners and  (b) young adult prisoners have (i) been reported and (ii) required hospital treatment in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: The number of reported self-harm incidents and the numbers which involved a hospital visit(1) are detailed in the following table:
	(1 )Attendance at an external health care facility is, in part, dependent on the level of health care facilities available within the prison and attendance at hospital should not be used as an indicator of the severity of self harm incidents.
	
		
			   Self-harm incidents  Number of hospital visits  Hospital visits as a percentage of incidents 
			 2006 23,395 1,304 6 
			 2007 22,875 1,373 6 
			 2008 24,884 1,308 5 
		
	
	The number of reported self-harm incidents in YOIs(2) and resulting hospital visits, involving juveniles and young adults, are detailed in the following table.
	(2 )These figures refer to incidents of deliberate self-harm in single-function young offender or juvenile institutions only. They exclude any data from dual-function establishments with official young offender roles.
	
		
			   Young people incidents  (15-18 yrs)  Juvenile hospital visits  Hospital visits as a  percentage  of incidents  Young adult incidents  (18-20  yrs)  Young adult hospital visits  Hospital visits as a  percentage  of incidents 
			 2006 631 17 3 1,263 61 5 
			 2007 438 11 3 1,208 79 7 
			 2008 631 13 2 1,142 65 6

Witnesses: Human Rights

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the implications for rules relating to evidence and witnesses of the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Al-Khawaja and Tahery v the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We are considering the implications of this judgment and whether or not to request a referral to the Grand Chamber.

Young Offenders: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1219W, what the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders in Merseyside was in the latest period for which information is available.

David Hanson: Overall statistics on persistent young offenders (PYOs) for England and Wales and the Merseyside police force area are available from 1997 to 2007.
	These figures are designed to measure the speed and efficiency of the youth justice system, through monitoring the pledge to halve the average time from arrest to sentence for dealing with PYOs in England and Wales from 142 days in 1996 to 71 days. They are not designed to measure overall trends in youth crime, and will give a misleading picture of the true trend if used for this purpose.
	On 10 December 2008, the Secretary of State for Justice announced in a written ministerial statement that the PYO pledge would be dropped with effect from the end of 2008. This is therefore the last year for which PYO statistics will be published and compiled.
	The following table shows the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders in England and Wales and Merseyside in each year from 1997.
	
		
			  Average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders 
			   England and Wales  Merseyside police force area 
			   Number of cases heard  Average interval (days)  Number of cases heard  Average interval (days) 
			 1997 16,010 141 695 153 
			 1998 18,605 125 726 138 
			 1999 21,151 108 773 116 
			 2000 23,131 95 820 111 
			 2001 25,393 76 966 91 
			 2002 26,116 68 999 65 
			 2003 26,086 66 1,016 81 
			 2004 26,363 69 1,046 82 
			 2005 27,037 68 835 75 
			 2006 28,252 72 797 65 
			 2007 30,683 65 955 63 
			 2008 28,834 57 624 53 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes the data in the table as National Statistics. Further information on persistent young offenders can be found on the dedicated page of the MOJ website:
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/averagetime arresttosentencepyo.htm

Young Offenders: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1193W, on young offenders, how many young offenders have been placed on the intensive supervision and surveillance programme (ISSP) in Merseyside since 2001; and what assessment his Department has made of the comparative  (a) costs and  (b) re-offending rates arising from (i) ISSP sentences and (ii) custodial sentences.

David Hanson: A total of 1,294 young offenders have been placed on the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance programme (ISSP) since the programme commenced in Merseyside in July 2001. A detailed breakdown by year and youth offending team in the Merseyside area is provided in the tables.
	The cost of ISSP varies from region to region but the Youth Justice Board use an average cost of 8,250 per head. The average annual cost per custodial place at 1 April 2008 is:
	
		
			   Average annual cost per custodial place () 
			 Secure Children's Homes 210,610.46 
			 Secure Training Centres 156,167.59 
			 Young Offender Institutions 57,015.44 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice publishes reoffending data based on disposal and this is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffending juveniles.htm
	ISSP can be attached to a number of community sentences, to the supervision part of a detention and training order, on release from custody imposed for a serious offence or attached as a bail requirement. It is not possible to identify ISSP separately from centrally available data.
	
		
			   Bail  CRO( 1)  SO( 2)  SO/CRO ff bail ISSP( 3)  DTO( 4)  Sec 90-92( 5)  Total 
			  July 2001 to March 2003
			 St. Helens, Knowsley, Sefton 15 0 29 0 9 0 53 
			 Liverpool 15 0 39 0 6 0 60 
			 Wirral 32 2 26 0 1 0 61 
			  62 2 94 0 16 0 174 
			 
			  2003-04
			 St. Helens, Knowsley, Sefton 32 0 32 0 8  72 
			 Liverpool 51 0 61 0 5  117 
			 Wirral 25 0 27 0 4  56 
			  108 0 120 0 17  245 
			 
			  2004-05
			 Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton 25 0 23 0 8 0 56 
			 Liverpool 20 1 60 1 24 0 106 
			 Wirral 24 0 28 0 10 0 62 
			  69 1 111 1 42 0 224 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton 35 0 17 0 8 0 60 
			 Liverpool 26 0 42 5 40 2 115 
			 Wirral 11 0 21 0 9 0 41 
			  72 0 80 5 57 2 216 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton 53 0 32 4 19 0 108 
			 Liverpool 25 0 27 4 20 4 80 
			 Wirral 30 0 18 0 9 0 57 
			  108 0 77 8 48 4 245 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Knowsley 13 0 11 2 7 0 33 
			 Liverpool 21 1 35 2 22 1 82 
			 Sefton 6 0 8 0 0 0 14 
			 St. Helens 9 0 3 1 6 0 19 
			 Wirral 17 0 16 2 7 0 42 
			  66 1 73 7 42 1 190 
			 Total ISSP in Merseyside since 2001   1,294 
			 (1 )Community Rehabilitation Order (2 )Supervision Order (3 )SO/CRO ISSP given after young offender has completed bail ISSP (4 )Detention and Training Order (ISSP applied after release from custody) (5 )Custodial sentence for most serious offences (ISSP applied after release from custody)

Young Offenders: Rehabilitation

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the Youth Rehabilitation Order to be implemented.

David Hanson: The YRO will be introduced towards the end of 2009. It is designed to combine existing sentences into one generic sentence and will be the standard community sentence used for the majority of young offenders, replacing nine existing community sentences. It will offer practitioners and sentencers greater clarity and flexibility in the community sentencing framework and provide a more risk based approach to community sentencing for young offenders.
	The YRO will have attached to it a number of requirements and this will consist of a menu of interventions including programmes, reparation, treatment for drug misuse, supervision and curfew which the court can choose from to suit the individual offender taking into account the seriousness of the offence.

Youth Custody

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many 18 to 21-year-olds on remand have been placed in prison cells with adults in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 249W. Establishments operate a policy that young adult remands (18 to 21-year-olds) do not cell share with adult remands. Remanded young adults are either placed into dedicated young offender institutes or into local 'adult' prisons. Where accommodation is within the main adult estate, young adults do not share with adults.

Youth Justice

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on the pilot projects for the youth conditional caution; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The consultation on the statutory code of practice governing use of the Youth Conditional Caution (YCC) for 16 and 17-year-olds was launched on 2 March 2009 and will run until 25 May 2009. Subject to parliamentary approval of the secondary legislation required to implement the YCC, we propose to begin pilots for 16 and 17-year-olds later in 2009. The process to identify pilot areas will begin shortly: publication of the draft code of practice gives potential pilot areas a clearer understanding of what piloting the YCC will involve. We will monitor the pilots closely to ensure that the YCC is used only in appropriate circumstances and that persistent offenders and those committing more serious crimes are dealt with by the courts.

Youth Justice: Parents

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase the involvement of parents of young people in the youth justice system; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: In the Youth Crime Action Plan, published in July 2008, we asked for views on how to increase the engagement of parents in the Youth Justice System, including whether measures of compulsion should be used. The Government response to this consultation is due for publication in the spring.
	Many of the initiatives in the Youth Crime Action Plan ensure increased involvement of parents when young people are at risk of offending or have offended.
	For example, we have committed to ensuring that families with children most likely to become prolific offenders benefit from better targeting of existing services, and to increase the reach of intensive family interventions.
	We are also working to increase the take up of parenting support when a child is at risk of offending or has offended, by improving training provision for parenting workers, and reminding sentencers of the effectiveness of making parenting orders. We want all parents who would benefit from support to be offered it, and for those who need it but do not engage voluntarily the support should be non-negotiable.
	In addition, under Operation Staysafe (due to take place in 69 areas in 2009-10), child protection legislation is used by police to remove young people on the streets at night who are at risk of offending or becoming a victim. Young people are not simply returned to their homes. Parents are required to collect them from a place of safety, to drive home the message that parents must be engaged in relation to their child's risk of offending behaviour.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Leader of the House what the policy is on the loan to others owned by the Members' Pension Fund.

Chris Bryant: The investment strategy of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) is a matter for its Trustees. The Leader of the House is required to approve a Statement of Investment Principles.
	The PCPF holds assets in both segregated and pooled funds. The segregated funds are held by the Custodian on behalf of the Trustees. The Trustees do not permit these assets to be used for stock lending.
	The Trustees have no control of the policy on stock lending for their investments in pooled funds, which in aggregate account for approximately 45 per cent. of the total fund value. The assets within these pooled funds are used for stock lending by the fund manager in order to enhance the returns earned on the investments.

Private Members Bills

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what Bills the Government offered to private Members to introduce in Session  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09; how many were subsequently introduced by hon. Members successful in the Private Members' ballot; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Private Members' Bills are the responsibility of the individual Member. A range of informal discussions take place between Ministers and Members on individual proposals at different times, and proposals change throughout the Session. The Government's guidance on handout Bills is published in the Guide to Making Legislation, available on the Cabinet Office website at the following address:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/secretariats/economic_and_domestic /legislative_programme/guide_html/government_handout_bills.aspx
	A full list of Private Members' Bills currently before the House can be accessed on the Parliament website.